Parents in Lagos push for vocational training to combat rising number of children not attending school

Concerns have been raised by parents under the Agege Parents Forum in Lagos State regarding the large number of out-of-school children in the community, with a call to action for the government to establish more technical schools to engage youths who are unable to continue conventional education.

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This appeal was made on Tuesday during the Annual General Meeting of the Agege Parents Forum, which was held at the Agege Stadium, where the United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that 18.3 million Nigerian children are out of school.

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The estimate comprises 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary level, highlighting the need for alternative educational opportunities.

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According to the Zonal Secretary of the forum, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ike, many children roam the streets after completing their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination due to limited educational and vocational opportunities.

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The situation has contributed to increasing cases of idle youths in the community, prompting Ike to stress that the pressing need now is for the government to help children who are still roaming about under the bridge, as they are leaders of tomorrow.

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Ike urged the Lagos State government, as well as its federal and state lawmakers, to establish technical schools within Agege and neighbouring communities to provide alternatives for students who may not excel academically.

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She emphasized the need for a technical school in Agege, citing the existing schools in Ikotun and Ogba as being too far, with transport fare alone discouraging many parents.

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Ike suggested that when a child gets to JSS3 and is struggling academically, they should have the option of attending a technical school to learn a skill instead of dropping out.

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She noted that vocational training could help curb youth unemployment and reduce social vices, using the example of her brother, who attended a technical school and later secured employment.

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The parents also decried inadequate infrastructure in public schools, particularly shortages of seats and learning facilities, with Ike stating that parents should not bear the burden alone.

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She said that some parents complain about the lack of seats in schools, and it is challenging to rely on parents to provide those amenities, emphasizing that the government should assist schools with infrastructure.

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Ike commended the lawmaker representing Agege II State Constituency, Jubreel Abdulkareem, for supporting education initiatives in the area, including sponsoring free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board registration forms for students over the past four years.

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According to Ike, the lawmaker had sponsored free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board registration forms for students, with about 100 students benefiting in the first year, and around 60 gaining university admission.

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Since then, he has continued to increase support yearly, with over 1,700 students having benefited from the free JAMB registration initiative, and nearly 6,000 students having benefited from various educational interventions.

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The forum, in collaboration with the lawmaker, recently organised vocational training in solar and CCTV installation for about 350 students and youths within the community, with some of them now equipped with skills and no longer roaming about.

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Ike called on schools to ensure fairness in the distribution of scholarships and educational support, stating that there should be no favouritism or discrimination when scholarships are given.

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She emphasized that everything about education should be done fairly and generally for all children, to ensure equal opportunities for all.

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Aminat Quadri from Isale-Oja in Agege Local Government Area expressed appreciation for the interventions, saying they had reduced the financial burden on families, and she understood the importance of these interventions having benefited from free education in the past.

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Another parent, Adeleye Oluwaseyi of Eko Junior School, said the lawmaker had also promised to support schools with improved infrastructure and a more conducive learning environment.