Osun Residents Decry Growing Number Of Out-of-school Children

Residents have decried the growing number of out-of-school children despite the provision of free education at basic and secondary levels in Osun State.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that school-age boys and girls often roam the streets during school hours, especially in areas dominated by people from other parts of the country.

A good number of people from this part of the country are in public and private schools across the state, while the nomadic schools in the state remain functional and are being effectively run and patronised.

A resident of Afonta Street in Osogbo, the state capital, Mr Abubakar Shehu expressed concern over the influx of children of school age that are not enrolled in school, adding that their future which looks bleak, should be of concern not only to parents but also to the government.

However, the threat to the security of lives and properties was the concern of Mr Buba Mallami, who noted that such children who are equally not learning a skill or trade might become wayward and constitute a nuisance and security threat to society in the near future.

But Chief (Mrs) Beatrice Omotunde IshoIa blamed the government for a lack of political will to do the right thing to forestall the danger inherent in a lackadaisical attitude to the scenario.

She noted that to guide against running foul of the constitution of the land, the state House of Assembly can make laws that will prohibit school-age children from roaming the streets during school hours and attach fines to persons caught in the web.

According to her, the government should embark upon intensive public enlightenment and sensitisation through various media, adding that the government should focus on direct communication with residents, especially in the affected communities.