Effects of Urbanisation on Educational Inequality Between Urban and Peri-Urban Schools in Lagos State

This study empirically examines the effects of rapid urbanisation on educational inequality between urban and peri-urban schools in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. Lagos is one of Africa's fastest-growing megacities, with rapid population growth in peri-urban areas creating a growing underserved school-age population that falls between urban resource allocation frameworks and rural support programmes. The educational consequences of this peri-urban marginalisation have not been rigorously studied. Data were collected from 50 secondary schools (25 urban, 25 peri-urban) across Lagos and Ogun border communities. Educational inequality was assessed using teacher-student ratios, infrastructure quality indices, WASSCE performance averages, and access to qualified teachers. Data sources include Lagos State Ministry of Education records, WAEC school performance data, and school inspection reports for 2020 to 2023. Difference-in-differences and fixed effects regression were applied. Results reveal significant and growing educational inequality between urban and peri-urban schools, with peri-urban schools showing sharply deteriorating teacher-student ratios and infrastructure adequacy as population growth outpaces provision. WASSCE performance gaps widened by 12 percentage points between urban and peri-urban schools over the study period. The study concludes that urbanisation is actively widening educational inequality in Lagos, particularly in peri-urban zones. It recommends that the Lagos State Ministry of Education develop a dedicated peri-urban school development master plan with prioritised infrastructure, teacher posting, and resource allocation policies calibrated to rapid population growth projections in marginal zones.

Keywords: urbanisation, educational inequality, peri-urban schools, Lagos State, school quality.