News

Back To School: What Parents Must Know As 2025/2026 Session Begins

Published

24 minutes ago

September 17, 2025

As public and private schools across Lagos, Ogun, Kwara states, and various parts of the country reopen September 15, 2025, for the first term of the 2025/2026 academic session, parents are busy buying uniforms, paying fees, and preparing their children for a new school year.

But beyond books and tuition, education stakeholders are urging families to pay closer attention to the conditions in which their children will be learning.

From leaking roofs to porous fences, many classrooms across Nigeria still struggle to meet basic safety and learning standards.

These stakeholders are urging them to look beyond the excitement of resumption and pay attention to three critical issues that directly affect their children’s safety and learning: the state of classrooms, the security of school environments, and the problem of overcrowded classes.

Experts argue that resumption should not simply be about dates on the calendar, but about readiness: are the classrooms safe, are the teachers equipped, and are the children truly protected?

The Punch on Monday spoke with three education stakeholders — who shared practical concerns and tips for parents as schools reopen.

Infrastructure Decay
Hurts Learning

For the Head of School at Offspring Ilm School, Ilorin, Mrs Lateefat Alli-Oluwafuyi, one of the greatest obstacles to effective learning is the physical environment of many Nigerian schools.

She lamented that countless schools still operate with cracked walls, leaking roofs, broken furniture, and little or no sanitation facilities.

“A child sitting on the floor or under a leaking roof already feels abandoned by the system before even opening a book,” she told Punch Online.

“Learning should happen in an environment that affirms dignity and comfort. Unfortunately, what we see in many schools are conditions that undermine children’s confidence and discourage attendance,” she added.

She argued that poor infrastructure directly contributes to poor performance and dropout rates, as pupils are less motivated to remain in environments that feel unsafe and undignified.

Oluwafuyi urged governments and private school owners to prioritise urgent renovations, while also calling on parents to speak up and hold local education authorities accountable.

Security Must Be Non-Negotiable

In his own remark, the principal at O.LAMURS School of Basic Ethics and Ethnic Studies, Alhaji Muhammad Adeyemi, emphasised that security remains one of the most pressing concern as schools resume.

He warned that in an era of abductions for ransom and ritual purposes, schools cannot afford to take safety for granted.

“Many schools have no perimeter fencing, no guards, and no system to verify who picks up children at closing time. That is dangerous,” he noted.

“Parents should sound a clear warning: nobody should take their child home without their consent.

“If there will be another guardian, schools must document it and enforce it strictly,” he added.

He also raised concerns about the journey to school, pointing out that some pupils rely on tricycle operators, okada riders, or even unmonitored school bus drivers.

Some of these operators, she added, engage in reckless or negligent behaviors, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or substances.

“Parents must evaluate transport arrangements carefully. Don’t just assume a school bus is safe or that a familiar okada rider can be trusted. Vet drivers, ask questions, and insist on accountability,” he advised.

Overcrowding is a Silent Crisis

The Founder of Inventive Tutors, Osogbo, Mr Kabir Isa, highlighted the problem of overcrowding, describing it as a silent crisis that undermines education across Nigeria.

He noted that some classrooms, particularly in public schools, hold between 80 and 100 pupils at once, making effective teaching almost impossible.

“When you pack 90 children into a room built for 30, you’re not teaching — you’re warehousing.

“Teachers cannot give individual attention, children cannot concentrate, and the overall quality of education collapses. Even the health risks associated with it should never be underestimated,” he said.

While acknowledging that Osun schools will officially resume on September 22, he urged authorities to use the window to address overcrowding, even if it means splitting sessions or adopting staggered timetables.

He argued that reducing class size should be treated as a matter of urgency.

“Parents must ask questions about how many pupils are in their child’s class. If a class is overcrowded, they should demand alternatives.

“Overcrowding kills learning as much as bad infrastructure or insecurity,” he warned.

As Nigerian children settle into a new academic year, experts stress that safety, dignity, and quality must remain at the center of resumption plans.

For parents, the call is clear: do not focus only on fees and supplies — pay attention to where your child sits, how they get to school, and whether they are secure.

Because until schools become truly safe and conducive, the excitement of a new term will remain overshadowed by the same old challenges, they uniformly asserted.

Key Points for Parents

Inspect your child’s school environment: leaking roofs, broken desks, and lack of sanitation affect learning.
Confirm safety arrangements: ensure schools document who can pick up your child.
Evaluate transport options carefully — don’t assume buses or trusted riders are safe.
Ask about class sizes; overcrowded classrooms limit effective teaching.
Demand accountability from schools and local authorities.

(PUNCH)

News

FG Makes History Compulsory Subject In Primary, Secondary Schools

Published

4 minutes ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government has announced the reintroduction of Nigerian History as a compulsory subject from primary to senior secondary school, 16 years after it was removed from the curriculum in 2009, under the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced this in a statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday.

It said the reintroduction aimed at strengthening national identity, unity, and patriotism among diverse citizens.

“For the first time in decades, Nigerian pupils will study History continuously from Primary 1 to JSS3, while SSS1–3 students will take the new Civic and Heritage Studies, integrating History with Civic Education.

“Primary 1–6: Pupils will learn about Nigeria’s origins, heroes, rulers, culture, politics, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.

“JSS1–3: Students will study civilisations, empires, trade, European contacts, amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values,” the statement read.

The Ministry said the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, CON, together with the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing the reform.

“They emphasised that History is not merely a record of the past, but a vital foundation for shaping responsible and patriotic citizens.”

According to the Ministers, the reform is a priceless gift to the nation, reconnecting children with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and commitment to national development.

The Ministry has released the revised curriculum and will retrain teachers, provide resources, and strengthen monitoring.

The former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua-led government in 2009 removed history from Nigeria’s basic education curriculum.

Then, it was justified that students were avoiding it with the claim that there were few jobs for history graduates, and that there was dearth of history teachers.

In 2022, the Ministry of Education under former Minister Adamu Adamu inaugurated the reintroduction of the subject.

The Ministry also trained history teachers at the basic education level in Abuja.

However, history has always remained optional in the few schools that offer it.

News

Police Announce Burial Arrangements For Ex-IG Arase

Published

9 minutes ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has released the burial arrangements for former Inspector-General of Police Solomon Ehigiator Arase, who died on August 31, 2025, at the age of 69.

Arase, who served as the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, was described by the Force as a dedicated officer remembered for his leadership, philanthropy and commitment to police reforms.

According to the programme of events signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, released on Wednesday, the burial rites will begin in Abuja on September 24 with a Day of Tribute at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi.

A requiem mass will follow on September 26 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, while a lying-in-state is scheduled for September 27 at his Abuja residence. His body will then depart for Benin City, Edo State.

In his hometown, Sabongida Ora, a candlelight procession is slated for September 29.

A valedictory session organised by the Edo State judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association will hold at the Edo State High Court, Benin, on October 2.

Other activities include a service of songs at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road, Benin, on October 2, followed by a family lying-in-state.

The funeral mass will take place on October 3 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, after which interment will be held at his private residence in Benin City.

A reception is planned at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, while a thanksgiving mass will round off the events on October 5.

Arase, who held national honours including CFR, and was also a PhD holder, was appointed Inspector-General of Police in April 2015 and retired in June 2016.

He died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.

News

Lagos Begins Monitoring As Schools Resume

Published

10 minutes ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Government, through the Office of Education Quality Assurance, has commenced the monitoring of schools for compliance with standards as students resumed activities this week.

The OEQA spokesperson, Adepeju Adeyemi, said in a Wednesday statement sent to newsmen that the inspection began on Monday across the state for schools below the tertiary level.

The monitoring team, led by the Coordinating Director of OEQA, Remi Abdul, visited several schools, including Dolphin Senior High School, Lagos Island, where the team was received by the Principal/Director, Comfort Agunlejika.

Abdul explained that the purpose of the monitoring was to ensure compliance with the approved resumption date as stated in the Year 2025/2026 Harmonised Academic Calendar.

The PUNCH reports that basic and secondary schools in Lagos resumed on September 15, 2025, for the First Term of the Y2025/2026 session.

According to the approved 2025/2026 harmonised calendar made available to our correspondent, the First Half of the term is scheduled for September 15 to October 31, 2025, with a duration of 34 days. The second half will commence from November 10 to December 19, 2025, with a duration of 34 days. In between the halves are Open Day and Mid-Term Break.

Abdul noted that the monitoring team deployed was also verifying whether school administrators held pre-resumption meetings and whether key teaching and statutory records, such as lesson notes, diaries, and makeshift attendance registers, were in place for the smooth take-off of the new academic session.

“While addressing SSS 3 students, Abdul encouraged them to take their academics seriously, noting that how well they perform this term would determine their transition to higher education. He urged them to read well, stay focused, avoid skipping classes and begin early preparation for their WASSCE examinations,” the statement said.

He also encouraged teachers to remain dedicated and committed to delivering quality education.