As schools across Nigeria reopen for the 2025/2026 academic session, education stakeholders have called on parents to look beyond tuition and uniforms and pay closer attention to the safety and learning conditions of their children.
From Lagos to Kwara, and in many parts of the country, pupils resumed on Monday amid concerns over dilapidated classrooms, porous security, and overcrowded learning spaces.
Crumbling Infrastructure Hampers Learning
The Head of School at Offspring Ilm School, Ilorin, Mrs. Lateefat Alli-Oluwafuyi, lamented the poor state of facilities in many classrooms, noting that leaking roofs, broken furniture, and lack of sanitation were undermining children’s confidence and academic performance.
“A child sitting on the floor or under a leaking roof already feels abandoned by the system,” she said. “Learning should happen in an environment that affirms dignity, but sadly, many schools are failing at this basic level.”
She urged government and private school owners to prioritise urgent renovations while parents hold education authorities accountable.
Security Remains Non-Negotiable
For Alhaji Muhammad Adeyemi, Principal of O.LAMURS School of Basic Ethics and Ethnic Studies, school safety is equally pressing.
“In an era of abductions, schools cannot afford to operate without perimeter fencing, guards, or clear systems for child pick-up,” he warned.
He advised parents to verify transport arrangements, stressing that some commercial drivers and bus operators engage in reckless or unsafe practices. “Don’t assume a school bus is safe. Parents must vet drivers and demand accountability,” he said.
Overcrowded Classrooms, a Silent Crisis
Founder of Inventive Tutors, Osogbo, Mr. Kabir Isa, raised alarm over classroom congestion, describing it as a “silent crisis” that cripples education.
“When 90 children are packed into a room built for 30, teaching becomes impossible,” Isa said. “Overcrowding kills learning as much as insecurity or bad infrastructure.”
He called on authorities to explore staggered timetables or split sessions, while urging parents to demand smaller class sizes for their wards.
A Call for Accountability
As millions of Nigerian children return to school, experts stress that parents must look beyond fees and supplies to ensure their children are safe, secure, and learning in dignified environments.
“Until schools are truly safe and conducive, the excitement of a new term will continue to be overshadowed by the same old challenges,” the stakeholders concluded.