Private school operators in Lagos State will soon complete government approval processes entirely online, as the Office of Education Quality Assurance introduces a digital compliance framework that eliminates the need for physical visits to government offices.

The Director General of OEQA, Dr. Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, announced the reforms at a one day workshop for operators of yet to be approved Grade C and D private schools in Alausa, Ikeja, warning that education operators would not be exempted from the state's tightening compliance standards.

"Lagos State is going to be very strong on compliance. If you look across different sectors, compliance expectations are becoming much higher," Ogunmuyiwa stated.

Under the new framework, school operators will submit applications online, receive electronic acknowledgements, track inspection schedules, verify assigned inspection officers, and access inspection reports through a dedicated digital portal. Draft approval letters will also be transmitted electronically before formal presentation, while payment systems will be fully digitised.

"We are automating our processes to make compliance easier and more transparent. Schools should be able to complete approvals remotely within a short time," he added.

Ogunmuyiwa also disclosed that all private schools in Lagos must now submit three mandatory reports regularly, namely annual School Self Evaluation Reports, School Improvement Plans, and School Development Plans filed every three to five years. Failure to comply, he warned, could attract regulatory action.

He further revealed plans to introduce quality assurance certification programmes at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, with each school required to designate officers specifically responsible for internal compliance monitoring.

"Just as schools now have safeguarding officers, they should also have officers dedicated specifically to quality assurance," he noted.

The Director of Private Education and Special Programmes, Mrs Kehinde Ogunlana, explained that the workshop targets schools stalled at the awaiting approval stage due to a limited understanding of regulatory procedures. She confirmed that previous editions helped schools meet infrastructure, teacher qualification, and documentation requirements, with several eventually receiving full approval.

"The workshop is designed to support schools, not to sanction them. The government recognises the important role private schools play in expanding access to education," she disclosed.

The Executive Director of SEED Care and Support Foundation, Mrs Olanrewaju Oniyitan, added that her organisation connects schools with commercial banks, microfinance institutions, non interest finance providers, and government schemes, including the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.