The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced plans to introduce an executive order that will prevent school-age children from roaming the streets during official school hours as part of efforts to address the problem of out-of-school children.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed the plan during the launch of the Lagos Education Access Fund and the inauguration of the board of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board in Lagos.
According to the governor, the directive will require children of school age to be in school between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except where there are valid reasons for their absence, adding that the measure is intended to strengthen school attendance across the state.
He explained that the initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure that every child in Lagos has access to education and that communities, parents and institutions take greater responsibility for keeping children in school.
Sanwo-Olu also announced the launch of a $25 million education programme designed to improve access to schooling and learning outcomes for children in the state.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the Education Outcome Fund and other partners, is expected to benefit more than 200,000 children across Lagos.
The governor said the programme would support the enrolment of about 50,000 out-of-school children aged six to fourteen into formal education through community outreach and targeted interventions.
In addition, around 150,000 pupils already enrolled in schools will benefit from programmes aimed at improving literacy and numeracy to ensure that school attendance leads to meaningful learning.
Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated the board of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, appointing Hakeem Shittu as chairman and charging members to strengthen school governance and expand access to quality basic education in the state.
