The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MB&SE) has released the approved Harmonized Academic Calendar for the 2025/2026 academic session. This calendar applies to all public and private schools operating below the tertiary level in the state. The announcement, made through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), is aimed at ensuring uniformity and academic stability across schools in Lagos State.
The process of developing the calendar involved a wide consultation with critical stakeholders in the education sector. Participants included school proprietors, principal associations, education experts, representatives of public and private schools, and relevant regulatory agencies. Their collaborative input was central to the final document’s approval and ratification.
The calendar was ratified during a stakeholders’ meeting and subsequently approved by the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun. The government emphasized that the approved calendar not only reflects stakeholder consensus but also aligns with national education policies and regulatory frameworks.
Mr. Remi Abdul, the Coordinating Director of OEQA, shared details of the academic calendar as follows: the First Term will run from Monday, 15th September 2025 to Friday, 19th December 2025. The Second Term will begin on Monday, 12th January 2026 and end on Friday, 17th April 2026. The Third Term is scheduled from Monday, 4th May 2026 to Friday, 24th July 2026. These dates are structured around national holidays, external examinations, and the standard number of instructional weeks required per term.
The harmonized academic calendar is designed to promote fairness and predictability, particularly for schools offering both national and international curricula. The state government believes that this coordinated schedule will enhance the learning experience, foster discipline, and improve monitoring and evaluation across all schools.
Mr. Abdul stressed that schools must adhere strictly to the dates outlined in the calendar. He emphasized that OEQA will conduct routine monitoring and enforcement checks to ensure compliance. Schools found violating the approved schedule risk regulatory sanctions. This move aims to prevent unapproved extensions or truncations of the academic term that could affect academic progress and standardized assessment.
In reaffirming the government’s commitment to educational quality, Mr. Abdul stated that the harmonized calendar will help stabilize academic activities, reduce discrepancies between private and public school timetables, and create a cohesive system where all learners benefit equally regardless of school type. This predictability is vital for planning curricular and co-curricular activities such as sports, inter-school competitions, and common examinations.
Parents, guardians, and school administrators are encouraged to download the academic calendar from the official OEQA website (forms.gle/NNQCXQhGx7EPgM…) and stay informed about key dates. The OEQA has also provided a contact point through their website (oeqalagos.com) for further inquiries or clarifications about the calendar.
The Lagos State Government sees the calendar not just as a regulatory tool, but as a roadmap toward improving educational outcomes across the state. With consistency in the school calendar, students can better prepare for examinations, school administrators can plan ahead, and policy implementers can track academic performance more effectively.
The state’s education ministry has also pledged to continue working closely with schools to ensure the calendar’s smooth implementation. They assured the public that further adjustments, if required, would be made through the same inclusive stakeholder process, ensuring transparency and accountability in education governance.
