Oyo Begins Free Evening Classes for Out-of-School Children in Markets

The Oyo State Government has introduced free evening classes for out-of-school children working in major markets, in a new effort to expand access to basic education.

The initiative was announced Thursday in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, during a media briefing.

Olayiwola said the programme is part of the state’s strategy to address the number of children outside the formal school system, while reinforcing education as a right protected by law. He called on parents, guardians, community leaders and market stakeholders to support the intervention.

According to the commissioner, the government is taking a support-based approach to enforcing compulsory education, focusing on access and inclusion rather than sanctions for non-compliant parents.

The pilot phase will begin on April 27, 2026, in three major markets — Mokola/Sabo, Bodija and Agbeni/Idi-kan — targeting children involved in trading and other informal work.

Classes will hold daily from 4pm to 6pm at designated learning centres, including St. Brigid’s Primary School, Mokola; St. Patrick’s Basic School, Idi-kan, Agbeni; and Methodist Primary School, Bodija.

Olayiwola said the programme is designed to provide flexible learning opportunities for children whose work schedules may prevent them from attending conventional school hours.

Susan Oladipo, Director of Basic Education, said members of the state steering committee on Almajiri and out-of-school children have conducted sensitisation visits across the selected markets ahead of the rollout.

She said market leaders have pledged support for the programme, including helping to identify vulnerable children and encouraging their enrolment.

The initiative forms part of the Makinde administration’s broader push to improve access to education for school-age children across the state.