Education stakeholders in Oyo State have raised concerns over what they describe as a deepening crisis in the basic education sector, warning that despite government interventions, a significant number of children remain out of school while poor infrastructure continues to hinder effective learning.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Ibadan organised by Educare Trust and the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), the Programme Director of Educare Trust, Folorunsho Moshood, described the situation as a troubling mix of progress and persistent systemic challenges. He noted that although the state has made efforts to expand access and modernise classrooms, learning outcomes remain weak and exclusion rates high.
According to data from the 2022/2023 Annual School Census, Oyo State has over two million pupils in public primary schools, making it one of the largest in the South-West. However, about 674,324 children—representing 20.1 per cent of those aged 3 to 17—are still out of school, the highest in the region. Stakeholders attributed this to factors such as poverty, distance to schools, hidden costs, and low interest in formal education.
Concerns were also raised about inadequate infrastructure in many public schools, including shortages of classrooms, toilets, and water and sanitation facilities. Stakeholders noted that many schools lack basic amenities, functional libraries, and sporting facilities, all of which negatively impact the quality of teaching and learning. They stressed that improving access without addressing quality would not resolve the crisis.
While acknowledging government efforts, including the release of over N3.5 billion in counterpart funding for education, stakeholders insisted that resources must translate into tangible improvements. They also called for better teacher distribution, especially in rural areas, enhanced support for special needs education, and stronger accountability in programme implementation to ensure every child has access to quality education.