30,000 out-of-school children return in Lagos

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Tolani Alli-Balogun, has disclosed that 30,000 out-of-school children have been returned to classrooms within the last year. He made this known during a ministerial press briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Alli-Balogun also revealed that the state government paid a total of N1,577,794,000 as examination fees for 58,188 students who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He noted that biometric and image capture exercises were conducted to verify 56,134 eligible candidates for sponsorship.

The Commissioner highlighted the state’s efforts to improve educational access, especially in private education. Between June 2023 and May 2024, the number of provisionally approved nursery and primary schools increased from 78 to 253, while secondary schools rose from 87 to 154. Overall, total approved schools increased from 165 to 407—reflecting a 147% growth.

On February 26, 2025, the Lagos State Government issued provisional approval letters to 70 private schools, comprising 41 nursery/primary and 29 junior/senior secondary schools. Alli-Balogun emphasized that the approvals reinforce the government’s commitment to formalizing and regulating private schools.

In terms of admissions, the Commissioner disclosed that 5,815 students applied to Lagos Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools. Following examinations, 4,763 students were offered provisional admission, representing an 81.9% success rate.

To further enhance student welfare, especially in boarding schools, the state government recently increased the feeding and boarding fees from N35,000 to N70,000. Alli-Balogun said this adjustment was necessary to improve meal quality and meet rising costs.

The state also continues to prioritize student well-being through improved infrastructure, access to learning materials, and monitoring of educational standards. These efforts, the commissioner said, align with the administration’s goal of ensuring quality education for all.

Alli-Balogun reaffirmed the government’s resolve to sustain its investments in education, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and ensure students receive adequate academic and emotional support throughout their schooling.