Uniforms washed and ironed, shoes polished, hair trimmed or plaited, school bags washed, and of course, teachers and school owners cannot wait to receive their pupils back to school for third term session after few weeks of break. However, for parents, school resumption calls for responsibility; from school run, to fee payment, purchasing of textbooks and learning materials, payment of levies, ensuring the security of their wards, and other expenses. VICTORIA AMADI reports on the expectations of school owners, teachers, parents and pupils towards the third term school resumption in Lagos State
Public and private schools in Lagos State resumed for the 2024/2025third term year academic session on Monday. This was met with compliance by schools in the state.
Our reporter,who visited some schools in the state to monitor resumption, reported good turn up of pupils back to school.
NAPPS: we have put in place strategic academic plans
In a telephone interview with The Nation, the National President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Nigeria (NAPPS), Chief Yomi Otubela, reiterated that school owners under the umbrella of NAPPS, have put in place strategic academic and developmental plans to ensure a productive and impactful term.
He further stated that there is a renewed focus on academic excellence, with schools reviewing and reinforcing their curriculum delivery strategies to help learners consolidate knowledge gained in the previous terms and adequately prepare for end-of-session assessments. He added that special attention is also being given to candidates preparing for external examinations like West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), and other transitional exams.
According to the NAPPS boss, many schools have adopted remedial programmes and academic clinics to support students who need extra help, ensuring no learner is left behind, adding that teachers are also undergoing refresher training and workshops to equip them with modern pedagogical techniques, including the use of digital tools and inclusive teaching methods.
“NAPPS is working closely with member schools to promote character education, entrepreneurship, and innovation aligning with the current national curriculum reforms. Safety protocols, psychological support systems, and parent engagement strategies have also been enhanced to create a more conducive learning environment,” he said.
School owners’ stance
According to the School Manager of Community Nursery and Primary School Isefun, who simply identified as Mrs. F.A. Aboderin, pupils would resume fully by the upper week, as some could not resume this week because of Workers’ Day coming up May 1.
“By next week, pupils will resume fully, as some of them are still considering Workers Day celebration this week. Our pupils have started receiving lectures already,” she said.
Pupils react
Some Junior Secondary School 1 and 3 pupils of Oba Moroof Ojoola Junior High School Ayobo, lamented over lack of space in their classrooms, dilapidated classrooms furniture, over population of pupils in a classroom, lack of ventilation and called for good classroom condition for easier assimilation and learning.
A Senior Secondary (SS3) of Was-lat Private College, Apongbon, Lagos Island, Haliyah Sulaiman, who is excited, noted that school resumption has been fun, adding that being at home during the holidays was boring.
“I’m so glad I could go back to school now. I actually love going to school,” she said
She added that her school, as at the time of resumption, introduced lots of new things such as; compulsory laboratory coats for all science students, banned cash payment of school fees, mandated pupils’ wearing of white socks and white shoes every Wednesdays and the deployment of new teachers to the school.
“Some of these changes are quite good but the mandatory wearing of white socks on Wednesday, I don’t think it’s so necessary. We have also started with our intensive class lessons; you know as SS3 students, we are starting our WAEC exams by next week. So, the school is not taking any chances with our studies, and I applaud them for that,” she said.
According to a SS2 student of Williams Private School, Fathia Ajimati, school resumption is met with mixed feelings.
“I mean it’s not everyone that has a strong liking for school, right? But I’m glad we have resumed either way. At least, I get to see my friends and teachers after so long. Lessons started immediately, my school doesn’t really delay in resuming lessons for a new term,” she noted.
A student of Orisunmbare Senior High School, Evelyn Anyamalu, said: “We wrote resumption test, wrote scheme of work, and had revision of previous term works. We would start receiving lessons fully by next week.”
Teachers undergo training for improved performance
A teacher at Nectary schools, Ms. Misturah Ajimati, noted that to improve students’ performance in the school, a seminar was put in place during the break, whereby the teachers were given a topic centred on the improvement of students psychologically, academically and physically.
“The seminar was a fruitful one and all teachers have been introducing the new techniques learnt during the seminar. And we teachers have been advised to use instructional materials when teaching the pupils for better understanding,” she explained.
A teacher at Oduduwa Secondary School Mushin, who craved anonymity, expressed worry over the condition of the school compound as the rainy season approaches.
“Third term usually takes place during the rainy season. And whenever it rains, the school compound is always flooded for more than 30 minutes after raining. This is worrisome,” the teacher said.
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Parents express concerns
A parent of two secondary school students in Ikorodu, Mrs. Kate Ugwu, urged her wards’ schools to focus more on academic discipline, while ensuring that teachers are consistent in their teaching.
She also emphasised the need for better communication between the school and parents, noting that “sometimes we only hear things last-minute”.
Mrs. Ngwu also expressed concern about students being kept after school without prior notice. “One thing I don’t like is when students are kept too long after school without clear reasons,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, she hopes the school would introduce career guidance programmes to help students prepare for life after school.
Another parent, Mrs. Ukaamaka Okafor, encouraged school owners and teachers to set good examples to the pupils. She lamented on how parents are excluded from key decisions in the school. She also called for the introduction of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) forum.
“This new term, I expect more discipline from the school not just from the students, but from the teachers as well. I want to see them setting a good example. I also think the school should pay closer attention to students who are struggling, not just focus on the top ones.
“One thing I’m not so happy about is the way parents are sometimes left out of key decisions. We should be more involved. I would really like the school to start organising regular Parent-Teacher meetings and maybe even bring in professionals to talk to the students about life skills,” she suggested.
Apprehensive over school resumption, Mrs. Omowunmi Olatunji, expressed concern on the financial strain that usually comes during third term, as a result of extracurricular activities in schools.
“Third terms always come with a lot of financial expectations by school owners on materials and other extra-curricular activities in schools like graduation, cultural day, among others. For parents, it’s usually time to pay some bills. But with the condition of things in the country, it might be hard to meet up,” she lamented.
A parent of a pupil at Williams Schools, Mrs. Kehinde Lateefat, called for the re-introduction of extinct subjects that are no longer taught in schools. She also advised schools to ensure Yoruba language is aptly taught.
She said: “There are many subjects we studied back when we were in school, and we learned a lot. But now, they don’t offer those subjects anymore.
“There are many things schools do that are not right. When we were in school, they used to compare students’ academic performance to select class perfect, but now it’s turned into politics—they compare popularity, and some even buy votes which is teaching them corruption in a way or the other. “Yoruba language is not being taught the way it should be. They need to improve in that area.
“Also, lateness should not be condoned. The school needs to be stricter with students regarding punctuality.”
