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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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)