OEQA Begins Process for 2026/2027 Academic Calendar, Seeks Stakeholders’ Input
The Lagos State Government has commenced the process of developing a harmonised academic calendar for the 2026/2027 session with a call for greater collaboration among education stakeholders.
Speaking at a preliminary stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) on Wednesday at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Ikeja, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, stressed the need for accountability, synergy, and adherence to standards across schools in the state.
Whilst declaring the event open, he noted that the proposed calendar would be binding on all public and private primary and secondary schools, covering instructional days, holidays and examination periods.
According to him, the initiative is a collective effort aimed at ensuring uniformity and improving learning outcomes adding that inclusiveness remains key to achieving sustainable progress in the sector.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs.Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, said a harmonised calendar is critical to ensuring continuity, efficiency and long-term planning within the education system.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Basic Education, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oyedele, urged stakeholders to make practical and solution-oriented contributions to the process.
Also speaking, the Director-General of OEQA, Dr. Sulaimon Olagoke Ogunmuyiwa, emphasised strict compliance with the calendar, warning against inconsistencies that could undermine quality assurance. He added that the agency would strengthen monitoring to ensure adherence.
Ogunmuyiwa also reiterated OEQA’s commitment to improved service delivery through its strategic framework, S.C.R.I.P.T.S, which focuses on staff capacity, collaboration, revenue, governance, professionalism and technology.
“Our vision is to become the leading educational quality assurance agency in Africa. Already, within Nigeria, people come to understudy what we do. But the key target is to be the best quality assurance agency in the world” Ogunmuyiwa added.
Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, OEQA, Mrs. Evelyn Pelemo, said the meeting marked the foundation stage of the calendar development process, aimed at gathering inputs, addressing emerging issues in the education sector and developing preliminary options for the 2026/2027 academic session.
She explained that the process ensures that the final calendar is realistic, implementable and widely accepted.
The Head of Policy, Planning and Training unit, Mr. David Ojelade during his presentation on the Framework for the Development of the Academic calendar, emphasize the importance of the calendar as a critical instruments for ensuring order, coordination and effectiveness within the education system.
Ojelade also highlighted the Policy Guidelines Governing the Calendar, which includes, Minimum Instructional Days, Structured Term Time, Public Holidays and Breaks and Final Validation.
Education Stakeholders at the meeting commended the State Government initiative
saying the calendar would provide seamless educational experience for learners, teachers and parents.
The meeting had in attendance top education Stakeholders and technical partners which includes: Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) ,Association of Providers of Education in Nigeria (APEN), All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON).
Others includes; Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), League of Muslim Proprietors (LEAMPS), Catholic Mission Schools, West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Ministry of Health and Government Model College, Ikorodu among others.
Adepeju Adeyemi
Deputy Director, Public Affairs
16th- 04- 2026
