Public, private schools in Lagos to resume, Monday, as Chrisland Schools cleared for resumption

Lagos Government has announced that all public and private schools in the state are to resume on Monday, 25th April, 2022.

According to the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, an agency of the Ministry of Education, the decision is in line with the Harmonised Academic Calendar for the Y2021/2022 session.

A statement signed by the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEAQ), Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said all proprietors and administrators are to ensure that all students resume on that date.

The Director-General said that the Second Term Holiday, which started on Friday, 8th April, ended on Friday, 22nd April, 2022 as stated in the Y2021/2022 academic calendar, explaining that the public holidays within the term such as Workers Day, Eid- El-Fitr and Eid-El-Kabir were put into consideration and embedded in the calendar.

Advising students to shun all forms of social vices as they prepare for resumption, Mrs. Seriki-Ayeni implored parents to continue to monitor the activities of their wards at home.

She also enjoined Proprietors and School Administrators to ensure strict compliance with the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, stressing that there must be full compliance with all safety protocols on school premises for a safe learning environment, as the State Government remains committed to the delivery of quality education.

Meanwhile, the state government has now cleared the embattled Chrisland Schools to resume normal academic activities following a rape scandal which rocked the institution forcing its closure by the Ministry of Education, penultimate week.

Lagos State Ministry of Education directed that all Chrisland Schools shut for alleged misconduct of some students in Dubai be reopened from Monday, April 25th, 2022.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, the latest directive follows a review of the ongoing administrative investigation into the incident. 

“Besides, it is to ensure that students are not denied access to learning when the new term begins on Monday, 25th April, 2022,” the statement read.

The State Government shut the schools for the safety of students and the staff and to ensure an unhindered investigation of the incident.

“The Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies of the State, in conjunction with the school’s Parent Teachers Association, will be working on scheduled psychosocial support for the students.

“An extensive assessment of the school’s procedure, especially on external trips and excursions, is being made to identify safety gaps and prevent such incidents.

“The Ministry will launch the reviewed guidelines/protocols governing private and public schools across the State within the next one month,” the statement added.

The reopening of the Chrisland Schools may also not be unconnected with an apology purportedly tendered by the 10-year-old alleged rape victim, as the police in the state had invited all parties involved in the alleged scandal to report to its office and tender written statements.

The police also showed videos of the incident to the parents of the alleged victim whose mother had reported that her daughter was drugged and gang-raped during the school contingent’s trip to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), last March.

Video footage from the incident had suggested otherwise, as they contradicted the mother’s allegations and only reinforced the school authorities’ position on the matter.