LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT APPROVES 101 PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ISSUES STRICT WARNING AGAINST CONCEALING CHILD ABUSE

Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education grants operational approvals to qualifying institutions while reiterating zero tolerance for unreported child protection violations and safety breaches

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, has approved the formal operational registration of 101 private primary and secondary schools across the state, having certified their compliance with prescribed educational standards and safety benchmarks.

Presenting the approval letters to school proprietors in Ikeja, senior ministry officials emphasized that the certified institutions successfully satisfied rigorous criteria encompassing infrastructural safety, qualified teaching staff, conducive learning environments, and compliance with the state curriculum.

During the event, government authorities issued a stern warning to school administrators against concealing cases of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse involving students, highlighting that non-disclosure constitutes a severe criminal offense under state child rights legislation.

Ministry leaders reiterated that school management teams are legally obligated to report all suspected or confirmed child abuse incidents immediately to appropriate law enforcement agencies and child protection units without attempting internal concealment.

The state government warned that default or failure to report abuse, alongside operational lapses in safety and child welfare, will lead to immediate revocation of approval, closure of affected institutions, and prosecution of responsible school administrators.

Reaffirming its commitment to raising educational quality across public and private platforms, the government urged all approved schools to maintain high moral, legal, and academic standards to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for children in Lagos State.