The wait is almost over and the excitement is palpable as students and teachers alike gear up for another academic year, filled with new experiences and challenges, Olasumbo Aniunlopo, Salman Precious, Esther Emedom, DOKUNMU OPEYEMI report
Resilience in the face of adversity
Mrs. Chidera Obioma is a single mother and teacher, who lives in Uratta and teaches at Umunahu Primary School in Imo State. She is working hard to support her daughter, Amanda’s education in Primary 2. Despite her financial struggles, she believes in setting goals and expectations for Amanda and emphasises the importance of communication and seeking help when needed.
As a teacher, Mrs. Obioma knows the value of parent-teacher partnerships in supporting her child’s education. She wants to work closely with Amanda’s other teachers at Umunahu Primary School to ensure she succeeds.
However, with limited resources and high transportation costs, she is determined to provide good education for Amanda.
Amanda also faces her own unique challenges. She struggles with reading comprehension, Mathematics and other subjects and often needs extra support from her teachers. Amanda’s father passed away a few years ago and she misses having a father’s role model in her life. Her mother works hard to provide emotional support and encouragement, but it can be tough balancing her own needs with her daughter’s.
Mrs. Obioma believes that Amanda will do well. She believes that education is key to a brighter future, and is committed to helping Amanda develop good study habits and time management skills.
Her determination and resilience are an inspiration to those around her, and her commitment to Amanda’s education is a testament to the power of a mother’s love.
Mrs. Obioma’s story reveals the main challenges that parents, students, and teachers face as they prepare for school resumption.
As pupils end their summer classes, parents are now confronted with how to pay their children’s school fees and also buy the essentials in preparation for resumption.
According to Mrs. Obioma, the main challenge parents, teachers and students face is the lack of resources, both financial and material. Many parents struggle to provide the necessary materials for their children and teachers are facing difficulties in accessing the resources they need to effectively teach.
She also emphasised that students facing academic setback, emotional trauma and social isolation need urgent support. She stressed the need to come together as a community to support each other and ensure that pupils receive the education they deserve. Her words mirror the feelings of many parents, students and teachers who are facing similar challenges. She believes the community should unite to help each other as school resumes next month.
Expectations as school resumes
Chiamaka Luke, a pupil of Gbaja Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos said she’s not excited about resuming school because the new session is going to be tough, and she has to be serious.
The SS2 student said she’s looking forward to learning a lot this session but is also anxious.
“Well, I have the necessary materials to resume for a smooth session. I have a lot of goals to achieve this term, such as getting good results, learning new things, and so on. We need the government to provide an ICT centre and the materials needed for a smooth session,” she said.
Mrs. Abosede Oki, a businesswoman who sells provisions, said she is very happy that her children will resume school next week because she will have more time for business and be able to rest before her wards come back from school.
“To God be the glory! I have got their school bags, socks and just a few more things remain to be bought. My husband and I have paid part of our children’s school fees, and we also have savings for them in case there’s any extracurricular activity or field trip, so they can have a great session,” she said.
The mother of two children added that she will be making significant sacrifices for her children by waking up around 5:00am to prepare their food, bath them, and even drive them to school. “But I’m happy to sacrifice all for my children,” she added.
Layla Jackdan, a student of Elegbeta Senior High School, said she will be happy to resume school because she is on another level and looking forward to learning new things to underscore her ambition to be a journalist in future.
The 17-year-old added: “The teachers need to introduce new activities to engage us beyond just writing notes all the time, such as drawing, painting and spelling bees.”
On her expectations from government, she said: “I am expecting government to provide chairs for our classes, chalks for the teachers, and writing materials for the students. Well, I have already got some of the things I needed last week.”
Miss Epese Chineye, a native of Enugu State resident in Lagos, said: “It is a good thing that our children are resuming school. As a guardian, it is a relief because their stay at home was very stressful due to the economic situation of the country. It is good that they are resuming.
“My niece and nephew are prepared to go back to school because they’ve got everything needed, but I’m expecting the government to provide essential things like water, electricity and writing materials, especially textbooks and notebooks, which some parents can’t afford. The government needs to put itself in our shoes because the economy is not encouraging at all.”
Mrs. Tony Mbaotu, a father of three, expressed excitement about his children’s returning to school but also voiced concerns about the economic situation in the country.
“I feel the resumption is early, but it is something I must manage, especially in terms of paying school fees. I have got some of the things my children need to resume school, even though I haven’t paid their school fees yet, which is something I must do,” he said.
A call for improved facilities, others
A parent at Treasure Gate School, Mr. Ben Emeka, emphasised that one of the items needed in school are “textbooks”.
He said: “Textbooks are fundamental requirements in government school that cover various subjects and provide the necessary knowledge for students to learn and understand different topics. Also, notebooks are essential for students to take notes, complete assignments and class thoughts. Without textbooks and notebooks, education cannot be effective.”
According to Lanre Kunle, whose child attends Community Secondary School, Mushin, stationery like pens, pencils, erasers and rulers are indispensable tools for pupils to write, draw diagrams, solve problems among others. These will enable students to participate actively in class and home activities.
Mrs. Afolabi Grace, who has a child at Igbo Owu Secondary School, Olateju, Mushin, Lagos, bemoaned lack of adequate school facilities and resources such as classroom furniture, desks and chairs, which support the learning environment, adequate lighting and ventilation. She hoped that all will be provided in the next session to boost learning.
For Mr. Akeem Yusuf, whose children attends Temple Gate Primary and Secondary School, he expects government to provide employment opportunities for him, especially to provide basic family needs such as clothing, feeding, shelter and protection. He said without his children being fed well, they won’t be able to concentrate in their studies and may not be able to resume school at the right time. He said he is not the only one that is affected by this situation.
Stella Ayomide, a pupil at Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos, urged government to provide more qualified teachers to ensure quality teachings at the right time because some of the teachers skip classes.
She also advised cleaners to ensure neat and welcoming environment, maintenance of tools and equipment, adding that a computer should be provided to encourage practical activities for clearer understanding of class thoughts.
Goodness Benita, another student at Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos, urged government to provide designated spot where each school items such as pens, pencils, erasers, ID cards among others would be kept to help keep track of them because these smaller items can easily get lost or misplaced in schools.
She also urged teachers to monitor or create a routine of always putting things back in their spots after using them.
Other parents not ready for resumption
A distraught parent, Mrs. Seun Omotoso, said: “For many reasons, I don’t want the children to resume now. I am the only one responsible for the upkeep of the family. Nobody is supporting and I have three children in school and they all need to get new writing materials, lunch box and school bags, and I have been facing some financial crisis, like payments of school fees and rent.”
Mrs. Ronke Idiamo, a mother of two kids, prayed for God to have mercy on parents because last term’s resumption was not as terrible as this session. She prayed for all the responsible parents to be able to cater to wards’ needs.
Mrs. Modupeola Adetunji, a grandmother, lamented the inflation in the country, noting that prices of books and other writing materials had gone high.
