News

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

Published

8 months ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

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

Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

2 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

News

IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police

Published

2 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.

Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.

Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.

News

Court Orders SERAP To Pay DSS Operatives N100m For Defamation

Published

7 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered a non-governmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to pay N100 million as damaged to two operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, for unjustly defaming them in some publications.

The court also ordered SERAP to tender public apologies to the defamed officers,
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, in two national newspapers, two television stations and its website.

Besides, the organization was also ordered to pay the two operatives N1 million as cost of litigation and 10 percent post-judgment interest annually on the judgment sum until it’s fully liquidated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a N5.5 billion defamation suit instituted against SERAP by the DSS operatives.

The judge found SERAP liable for unjustly defaming the two DSS operatives with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its Abuja office, harassed and intimidated its staff, in September 2024.

In the offending publication on its website and Twitter handle, SERAP alleged that the two operatives unlawfully invaded and occupied its office with sinister motives.

The judge held that the publication was in bad taste especially from an organization established to promote transparency and accountability, as nothing in the publication was found to be truthful.

The DSS staff had listed SERAP as 1st defendant in the suit marked CV/4547/2024. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, was listed as the 2nd defendant.

In the suit, the claimants – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – accused the two defendants of making false claims that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024..

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, had while adopting his final address in the mater urged the judge to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the interest of justice.

He admitted that although the names of the two claimants were not mentioned in the defamation materials, they had however established substantial circumstances that they are the ones referred to in the published defamation article by SERAP on its website.

The counsel submitted that all ingredients of defamation have been clearly established and the offending publication referred to the two officials of the secret police.

However, SERAP, through its counsel, Victoria Bassey from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, law firm, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the two claimants did not establish that they were the ones referred to in the alleged defamation materials.

She said that SERAP used “DSS officials” in the alleged offending publication, adding that the two claimants must establish that they are the ones referred to before their case can succeed.

Similar arguments were canvassed by Oluwatosin Adefioye who stood for the second defendant, adding that there was no dispute in the September 9, 2024 operation of DSS in SERAP’s office.

He said that since SERAP in the publication did not name any particular person, the claimants must plead special circumstances that they were the ones referred to as the DSS officials.

Besides, he said that there is no organization by name Department of State Services in law, hence, DSS cannot claim being defamed adding that the only entity known to law is National Security Agency.

The claimants had in the suit stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on their reputation.

The DSS also stated, in the statement of claim, that, in line with the agency’s practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite them for a familiarization meeting.

The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle – @SERAPNigeria – that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN)”.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to their reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

“Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”