Lagos State Approves 2026/2027 Academic Calendar, Schools to Resume September 14

Lagos State Government has approved and released the harmonised academic calendar for the 2026/2027 school session for all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, following extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the education sector coordinated by the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA).

According to the commissioner, the calendar was adopted after two separate stakeholders' meetings during which participants deliberated on and agreed to the major activities and timelines for the upcoming academic year. The approved schedule provides details of school resumption dates, mid-term breaks, examination periods and holidays, offering a structured framework to enable schools, teachers, parents and students to plan effectively throughout the session.

Under the calendar, staff professional development will hold from Monday, September 7, to Friday, September 11, 2026, while the first term begins on Monday, September 14, 2026. The first term mid-term break is scheduled for Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6, 2026, while the first term vacation will run from Monday, December 21, 2026, to Friday, January 8, 2027. The second term will commence on Monday, January 11, 2027, while the third term will begin on Monday, May 3, 2027. The 2026/2027 academic session will end on Friday, July 30, 2027, with a total of 182 school days.

The commissioner also noted that International Literacy Day will be observed on September 8, 2026, while the International Day of Education will be marked on January 24, 2027.

Alli-Balogun said the unified calendar reflects the state government's commitment to improving the quality of education and ensuring a well-organised academic year, adding that schools operating international curricula may apply for flexibility by submitting the approved form on or before Friday, August 21, 2026.

The calendar further shows that schools are permitted to pick any two days between Monday, September 7, and Friday, September 11, 2026, for their staff professional development, although the timing is left to each school's discretion.

The calendar also accommodates public holidays, including Independence Day, Eid-el-Fitr, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid-el-Kabir, Democracy Day, and Workers' Day, alongside international observances such as International Literacy Day and the International Day of Education.

Under the new calendar, the observance of Open Day is compulsory for schools, although each institution may determine the date. Public holidays remain mandatory and will be observed in line with directives from the Federal Government.

Alli-Balogun noted that the harmonised calendar underscores the Lagos State Government's commitment to promoting quality education through a coordinated and well-organised academic system. He called on all public and private schools in the state to strictly adhere to the approved timetable to ensure uniformity and the smooth implementation of academic activities.

The commissioner also encouraged members of the public to access the complete 2026/2027 academic calendar on the official website of the Office of Education Quality Assurance, OEQA, as well as across the Lagos State Government's official digital platforms.

The harmonised academic calendar comes after months of preparation. The Lagos State Government had commenced the process of developing a harmonised academic calendar for the 2026/2027 session with a call for greater collaboration among education stakeholders, with a preliminary stakeholders' meeting organised by the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) earlier in the year.

It was noted that the proposed calendar would be binding on all public and private primary and secondary schools, covering instructional days, holidays and examination periods, with inclusiveness remaining key to achieving sustainable progress in the sector.

The release of the academic calendar gives parents, teachers, school administrators, and students ample time to plan for the new session, which officially begins in approximately two months.