Teachers, students, and parents are filled with anticipation as primary and secondary schools across most states in Nigeria resume today, January 6, 2025, marking the beginning of the second term. States including Kano, Delta, and Jigawa reopened their public and private schools, while Federal Unity Schools extended their break until January 12 due to ongoing renovations.
In **Kano State**, boarding students resumed on Sunday, January 5, with day students joining today. The state government, in a statement by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Balarabe Kiru, urged parents to ensure timely resumption, warning of disciplinary actions for latecomers. The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Makoda, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to quality education and announced monitoring exercises to ensure staff punctuality and efficiency.
Similarly, **Delta State** directed all public and private schools to resume today. Permanent Secretary Augustine Oghoro emphasized the need for teachers to renew their commitment to improving educational standards. Monitoring teams, led by Commissioners for Secondary and Primary Education, were dispatched to ensure compliance.
In **Jigawa State**, schools also resumed today, with boarding students arriving on Sunday. Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Isa Chamo, assured parents that teaching aids had been provided to enhance learning and ensure a productive term.
For Federal Unity Schools, the resumption date was shifted from January 5 to January 12. A circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, signed by Permanent Secretary Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwazzo, explained that the extension was necessary to complete renovation projects in many of the schools.
While school authorities expressed excitement about the new term, parents voiced concerns over rising costs. Alli-Oluwafuyi Lateefat, Head of School at Offsprings Ilorin, Kwara State, called for stronger home-school collaboration, stating, “Learning can be as enjoyable as play if approached with dedication.” She also stressed the importance of parental involvement in monitoring students’ academic progress.
However, parents like Mr. Tunbosun Esho and Mrs. Nafisat Bakare highlighted financial challenges. Mr. Esho lamented, “Balancing tuition, transportation, and other bills is becoming harder with rising prices.” Mrs. Bakare added, “Transport fares have doubled since last term, forcing tough choices between essentials and school needs.”
As schools reopen, state governments and institutions are focused on ensuring a smooth and productive academic term. Monitoring efforts and enhanced infrastructure are expected to support student success, despite the financial burdens faced by parents.
