By Ejire Folakunmi
The Oyo State Government has introduced an innovative educational model to combat the out-of-school children crisis, launching free evening classes specifically designed for children working in major markets across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, announced on Thursday, April 23, 2026, that the Governor Seyi Makinde administration is shifting away from purely punitive measures against parents.
Instead, the state is adopting a “flexible learning” approach to ensure that children currently engaged in menial jobs or trading can still access their fundamental right to basic education.
The pilot phase of this initiative is set to begin on Monday, April 27, 2026, targeting three of Ibadan’s busiest commercial hubs: Mokola/Sabo, Bodija, and Agbeni/Idi-kan.
This “Market School” initiative is a mechanical necessity for addressing the socio-economic reality of the Almajiri and Out-of-School phenomenon in Southwest Nigeria.
By scheduling classes from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the government is effectively working around the economic schedules of vulnerable families rather than in competition with them.
This acknowledges that for many families, the immediate need for a child’s contribution to the daily income often outweighs long-term educational goals; providing a two-hour window at the close of the business day creates a compromise that keeps the child within the formal learning ecosystem.
The involvement of the State Steering Committee on Almajiri and Out-of-School suggests that this is not just a local literacy drive, but part of a broader federal-state alignment to reduce Nigeria’s high out-of-school figures.
By utilizing existing infrastructure, such as St. Brigid’s Primary School and Methodist Primary School, as evening centers, the state is maximizing its “Educational Asset Base” without the immediate need for new construction.
For these children, these two hours represent a critical “bridge” back into formal society, ensuring that the marketplace does not become a dead end for their intellectual development.