Schools nationwide reopened on Monday for the new academic term, but attendance was notably low in both primary and secondary institutions. Challenges from economic pressures to misinformation have left many pupils and students absent as the session began.
Across several states including the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Borno, and Adamawa, only a fraction of enrolled students showed up on the first day. At LEA Primary School in Dei-Dei, Abuja, just a handful of children were seen, many idling or playing football by mid-morning, while teaching activities had yet to commence. Teachers, gathered in groups, lamented the scarcity of students, noting that actual lessons depend on who is present.
In nearby Junior Secondary School (JSS), Dei-Dei, a similar scene unfolded with sporadic attendance and students participating in tasks like cleaning rather than academic work. Disruptions from outside groups, especially almajiri children entering school premises, were noted as a challenge despite repeated attempts to curb such interruptions.
The situation in Kano reflected comparable patterns, where both public and private schools witnessed poor pupil presence. Parents explained that many learners do not expect immediate academic engagement on resumption days. Concerns were also raised over unchecked and escalating school fees that place heavy financial burdens on families. One parent urged state authorities to set minimum, standardized fees to protect parents from arbitrary hikes.
Despite low student attendance, Kano’s Ministry of Education monitoring teams expressed satisfaction with teacher punctuality and school preparations, applauding the cleanliness and readiness observed in most schools. The State Commissioner for Education encouraged school teachers and leaders to maintain this momentum, reaffirming government dedication to enhancing education quality.
In Maiduguri, confusion fueled by rumors about postponed resumption dates further reduced attendance. Few parents relied on WhatsApp group updates from schools to confirm reopening and bring their children despite widespread misinformation. Many families voiced distress over rising school expenses, which have surged sharply beyond last year’s rates, excluding additional costs for uniforms and supplies.
Adamawa faced similar difficulties, with parents struggling to meet soaring fees that have nearly doubled in some cases between primary and junior secondary levels.
Local booksellers attributed price hikes to inflation’s harsh toll on operational costs, while proprietors cited necessary fee rises linked to renovations and utility expenses aimed at improving learning environments. Despite this, efforts to alleviate parental burdens included wholesale book purchasing and discounted materials to keep education accessible.
The opening of the 2025/2026 academic session across Nigeria exposes the challenges of low student mobilization, misinformation, and an alarming increase in school costs that jeopardize children’s access to education. The government on the other hand promises to launch intervention programs so that quality education will be affordable nationwide.
Leave a comment