Osun’s struggle with out-of-school children and Adeleke’s interventions

By Jeleel Olawale

Osun State has recently been grappling with the challenge of out-of-school children, a growing concern that poses a significant threat to the education sector in the state.

Stakeholders within the education sector in Osun have been tirelessly working to address this issue. Despite their efforts, the challenge remains pervasive, and there is a collective determination to bring about change.

The current situation undermines government initiatives aimed at increasing school attendance and ensuring that no child is excluded from education. The state government allocates a considerable portion of its annual budget to education, placing it among the highest priority sectors, just after infrastructure. However, the problem of out-of-school children persists.

It is deeply concerning that, as of October 2024, approximately 150,000 children in Osun State are not attending school. This figure is part of a broader national issue in Nigeria, where around 18.3 million children remain out of school, making the country home to the largest number of out-of-school children globally.

Despite several efforts made by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, the situation has not significantly improved. The state government has introduced multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing access to education and reducing the number of out-of-school children, though progress has been gradual.

By January 2025, following the resumption of the second term for the 2024/2025 academic year, it was found that Osun, with a population of approximately 4.7 million, contributes 150,000 children to the national figure of out-of-school children.

A non-governmental organisation, the One House Development Initiative (OHI), noted that Lagos, with an estimated population of 21 million, has 160,000 out-of-school children—just 10,000 more than Osun. In contrast, Ekiti State, with a population exceeding 2.2 million, has approximately 40,000 out-of-school children, a number that, when adjusted to Osun’s population, would equate to around 80,000, leaving a gap of 70,000 children who are not attending school.

Although previous administrations have made attempts to reduce this issue, significant progress has not been achieved. Education stakeholders have often pointed to the education policy implemented by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, which introduced the 4-5-3-4 education system. This system contradicted the national 6-3-3-4 structure, and many believe it contributed to the rise in out-of-school children, a situation that successive governments are now attempting to reverse.

The government’s goal of providing education for all children, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or social status, has not yet been fully realised. Many of these children are forced into child labour, with parents sending them to hawk goods in the streets during school hours in various towns and villages. Commonly, these children are found in towns such as Ikire, Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, and Gbongan, where they either fend for themselves or contribute to their family’s income. This growing trend poses a dangerous long-term threat to the future of the country.

A review of the Osun State government’s budget allocation for education indicates that ¦ 27.5 billion has been earmarked for the sector, a 33% increase from the 2024 budget. This is seen as a positive development for the education sector.

In response to the ongoing challenges, Governor Adeleke’s administration has initiated a number of measures to improve education in the state. In February 2025, the governor announced the “Imole Statewide Public and Private Schools Students SSCE Scholarship,” a programme designed to reward the best-performing students in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) across the state.

The government has also focused on improving teacher welfare, implementing policies to make the teaching profession more attractive. These reforms aim to address teacher shortages and improve the quality of education, which, in turn, is expected to encourage more children to attend school.

Additionally, the administration has implemented reforms arising from an education summit, which prioritised teacher welfare and educational quality. Among the initiatives is the introduction of a new retirement age for teachers.

Governor Adeleke has also committed to strengthening Senior Secondary education in the state to build a solid foundation for university-level education. To further enhance the education system, the state government is promoting public-private partnerships, recognising that government funding alone cannot meet all the needs of the education sector. The collaboration with non-governmental organisations and alumni associations is seen as crucial in supporting educational development.

Moreover, the government has launched campaigns to encourage parents to send their children to school, with particular emphasis on reducing child labour and boosting school enrolment in both rural and urban areas. Early indications suggest that these campaigns are yielding positive results, with an increase in the number of students attending public schools.

While these efforts are commendable, the high number of out-of-school children continues to be a significant issue, and more comprehensive, sustained action is required to tackle the root causes of educational exclusion in Osun State.

Despite some improvements, including increased enrolment in public schools, the number of out-of-school children in Osun remains troublingly high. However, according to Mr. Adereti Afeez, an educationist and Director of Administration and Personnel at the Osun East Ministry of Education, the figure has decreased from 150,000 in 2024 to 100,000 as of February 2025. Afeez attributed this reduction to the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, which the government has expanded, and the payment of school fees for indigent children, preventing them from dropping out of school. These measures have contributed to the significant rise in school enrolment.

The shift from private to public schools, driven by economic factors, has also led to an increase in the number of students. Furthermore, the establishment of new schools in residential areas has further contributed to this growth.

These developments demonstrate that while some progress has been made, a more comprehensive approach is needed to address deeper issues such as poverty, child labour, and inadequate infrastructure, which continue to hinder educational access. 

To significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children, continuous investment in education and attention to systemic challenges are essential. Addressing these challenges will require not only policy reforms but also a collaborative effort from all sectors of society.

For the government to achieve the desired results in the education sector and reduce the number of out-of-school children, there is a pressing need for increased budgetary allocation to education. The political class, education stakeholders, and parents must take significant action to curb this menace before the nation faces even more severe consequences in the future.