Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced plans to introduce an executive order that will prohibit school-age children from roaming the streets during official school hours.
The governor made the announcement during the launch of the Lagos Education Access Fund (LEAF) and the inauguration of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the proposed directive is aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children and strengthening accountability among parents, communities, and institutions responsible for children’s education.
According to him, no school-age child should be seen outside during school hours unless there is a valid reason for being absent from school.
The governor noted that the policy would help ensure that children remain in classrooms and benefit from the state’s education investments.
Alongside the new policy, the state government unveiled a $25 million outcomes-based education fund designed to improve learning results among pupils.
Through collaboration with the Education Outcome Fund and other development partners, the programme is expected to benefit more than 200,000 children across the state.
The initiative will focus on improving literacy and numeracy while ensuring that students not only attend school but also achieve measurable learning outcomes.
Officials said the programme will specifically target about 50,000 out-of-school children aged six to 14, helping them return to the formal education system through community outreach and support programmes.
Another 150,000 pupils already in school are expected to benefit from initiatives aimed at strengthening reading, writing, and mathematics skills.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that education policies must go beyond increasing school enrolment to ensuring real learning outcomes for students.
The governor noted that the new initiative builds on Project Zero, an education intervention launched in 2021 to address the challenge of out-of-school children.
According to him, the programme has already helped reintegrate more than 36,000 children into formal education across the state.
The state government has also supported over 360 parents and guardians with vocational training in areas such as fashion design, catering, soap making, and hairdressing.
Sanwo-Olu explained that strengthening family income is essential to keeping children in school consistently.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted ongoing investment in school infrastructure across the state.
He said the administration has constructed more schools and classrooms within the past seven years than were built in the previous two decades.
In one recent project, the government delivered 35 schools within a single education complex, with capacity to accommodate nearly 20,000 students.
Speaking at the event, Amel Karboul, Chief Executive Officer of the Education Outcome Fund, praised Lagos for adopting an education financing model focused on measurable results.
Karboul, a former Tunisian minister, said investment in education remains the most important infrastructure any nation can develop.
She noted that many governments invest heavily in education facilities and materials but often fail to achieve improved learning outcomes.
According to her, the funding model adopted in Lagos prioritises results rather than simply spending on inputs.
During the event, the governor also inaugurated a new board for the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board.
Hakeem Shittu was appointed chairman of the board to oversee reforms aimed at strengthening basic education delivery in the state.
Other board members include Saheed Ibikunle, Sijuade Idowu-Tiamiyu, Sherifat Adedoyin, Owolabi Falana, Adewale Babatunde, Babatunde Williams, and Hakeem Lamidi.
In his acceptance speech, Shittu pledged that the board would focus on expanding access to education, improving school governance, and ensuring measurable learning outcomes across Lagos State.
