Oyo state has the highest number of out-of-school children in south west Nigeria, according to a report by StatiSense, a data consulting firm.
The state has over 400,000 out of school children.
This report is coming few months after state crumbled in latest West African Examination Council (WAEC) ranking. In the ranking Oyo state emerged 26th position in Nigeria.
The figure came despite the government’s N2.5 Billion for the construction of three model Schools to the tune of N1.8 Billion and renovation of 100 secondary schools to the tune of N2 Billion in the state.
According to StatiSense report, Oyo is also the only Southwestern state out of the first 16 states from the Northern Nigeria.
It emerged on the 10th position with the highest number of the out of school children in the country.
Meanwhile, the state government expressed worried over the increasing rate of out-of-school children in Oyo State.
Last month, it organised through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), Akure office, a two-day intensive policy dialogue with stakeholders.
The policy dialogue was to provide a forum for stakeholders to deliberate on what could have been responsible for the gradual decline interest of parents, guardians and children in formal and basic education, and to proffer solutions to the problems.