. Ministry to review operational guidelines on boarding schools
Less than 24 hours after the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Government yesterday, gave the management of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, conditions to be met before the school will be reopened for academic activities.
The conditions were stated in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Ganiu Lawal, titled: Dowen College: Aftermath Of DPP advice, ministry of education directs the school to fix administrative lapses, set to review boarding school guidelines.
The statement which was made available to Daily Sun said the ministry of education has directed the management of Dowen College, Lekki, to correct identified lapses in the school’s administration discovered during the ministry’s inspection and comprehensive investigation following the death of a student, Sylvester Oromoni.
The ministry was reacting to the advice of DPP to the police that Oromoni’s death could not be linked to alleged bullying, thus exonerating the five arrested students, staff, and the college.
Lawal said the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo while clarifying the fate of Dowen College students in view of the resumption of schools for the 2nd term in Lagos State disclosed that the ministry was reviewing the operational guidelines of boarding schools and the requirement for establishing a boarding school in Lagos State.
She hinted that the ministry would begin the revalidation of all existing boarding school facilities after the mid-term holidays.
The education commissioner said the ministry’s departments and agencies responsible for monitoring and inspection of schools are being overhauled to improve efficiency.
She concluded that Dowen College management has been mandated to fix school governance gaps and other regulatory issues, adding,‘’ we will consider the possibility of reopening the school only when all issues surrounding school administration have been appropriately attended to,’’ Adefisayo said.
Lagos State Government on December 3, 2021, ordered the closure of Dowen College, indefinitely following the death of Sylvester Oromoni, who was allegedly beaten to death by fellow students.
Mrs. Adefisayo announced the closure after she met with the school management and staff. She revealed the college would remain shut until the completion of the investigation by the police.
