The Lagos State Government has approved a harmonised academic calendar for the 2026/2027 session, requiring all public and private primary and secondary schools to operate on the same schedule.
The move, announced by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, marks the first time both public and private schools across the state will follow a unified academic timetable.
According to the government, the new calendar is designed to improve coordination across the education sector while giving parents, teachers and students a predictable school schedule.
The 2026/2027 academic session will officially commence on Monday, September 14, 2026, following a two-day Staff Professional Development (SPD) programme scheduled for September 10 and 11.
Under the approved calendar:
- First term: September 14 – December 18, 2026
- Christmas vacation: December 21, 2026 – January 8, 2027
- Second term: January 11 – April 16, 2027
- Inter-term break: April 19 – April 30, 2027
- Third term: May 3 – July 30, 2027
- Long vacation: Begins August 2, 2027
The academic year will comprise 182 instructional days, with 64 days in the first term, 61 in the second, and 57 in the third.
A five-day mid-term break has also been scheduled from November 2 to November 6, 2026, alongside designated periods for Open Day activities and public holidays.
The state government said the calendar was developed after consultations with education stakeholders coordinated by the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA).
According to Alli-Balogun, the harmonised timetable reflects the government’s commitment to improving education planning and ensuring consistency across schools.
He urged all public and private schools to comply fully with the approved schedule.
Schools offering international curricula that require different academic dates have been directed to apply for calendar flexibility no later than August 21, 2026, in line with state guidelines.
The harmonised calendar is expected to eliminate the long-standing practice of public and private schools operating different resumption dates, examination periods and holidays.
For parents with children attending different schools, the unified timetable will simplify planning for holidays, childcare and family activities.
Education authorities also expect the common calendar to improve coordination of examinations, teacher training programmes and school quality assurance activities across Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has opened registration for the second Computer-Based Test (CBT) screening into its Model Colleges and upgraded Junior Secondary Schools.
Registration, which began on July 14, will close on August 15, 2026, while the screening examination is scheduled for August 21 and 22 at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo.
The second screening is intended for candidates whose earlier examination dates clashed with other external examinations. The Lagos State Examinations Board has assured parents and candidates that the exercise will be conducted transparently and fairly.
