Table of Contents

Back to School 2025/2026: Key Tips Every Parent Needs

This period has sparked widespread discussions around Back to School Nigeria 2025/2026 Tips for Parents, especially on how to balance costs with safety and learning conditions.

As public and private schools throughout Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, and various regions of the country prepare to reopen on September 15, 2025, for the inaugural term of the 2025/2026 academic year, parents are engaged in purchasing uniforms, settling fees, and getting their children ready for another school year.

However, in addition to acquiring textbooks and paying tuition, education advocates are encouraging families to focus more on the conditions of their children’s learning environments.

With issues ranging from leaking roofs to inadequate fencing, numerous classrooms across Nigeria continue to fail to meet essential safety and educational requirements.

These advocates are urging parents to look past the enthusiasm of school resumption and consider three vital factors that impact their children’s safety and learning: the condition of classrooms, the security of school surroundings, and the issue of overcrowded classes.

Experts maintain that the resumption should not merely revolve around calendar dates but rather on readiness: are the classrooms safe, are the educators prepared, and are the students genuinely safe?

Punch Online spoke with three education professionals on Monday, who shared practical insights and recommendations for parents as schools restart.

Deteriorating Infrastructure Impairs Learning

Mrs. Lateefat Alli-Oluwafuyi, Head of School at Offspring Ilm School in Ilorin, identified the physical environment of many schools in Nigeria as one of the most significant barriers to effective learning.

Her concerns align with the broader Back to School Nigeria 2025/2026 Tips for Parents, which underscore the urgent need for parents to assess their children’s learning spaces.

She expressed concern that numerous schools continue to function with damaged walls, leaking roofs, broken furniture, and insufficient sanitation facilities.

“A child sitting on the floor or beneath a leaking roof already feels neglected by the system before they even open a book,” she stated to Punch Online.

“Education should occur in a setting that upholds dignity and comfort. Sadly, many schools exhibit conditions that diminish children’s confidence and deter attendance,” she further explained.

She contended that inadequate infrastructure is directly linked to poor academic performance and increased dropout rates, as students are less inclined to stay in environments that seem unsafe and undignified.

Oluwafuyi called on both government and private school administrators to prioritize necessary renovations, while also encouraging parents to voice their concerns and hold local education authorities accountable.

Safety Should Be a Priority

In his remarks, Alhaji Muhammad Adeyemi, principal at O.LAMURS School of Basic Ethics and Ethnic Studies, stressed that security is among the most urgent concerns as schools prepare to reopen.

His advice aligns perfectly with Back to School Nigeria 2025/2026 Tips for Parents, underscoring the importance of vetting school security systems and transportation arrangements.

He cautioned that in an age marked by kidnappings for ransom and ritualistic purposes, safety cannot be overlooked by educational institutions.

“Numerous schools lack perimeter fencing, security guards, and a system to verify who collects children after school. This is highly concerning,” he emphasized.

“Parents should make it clear: no one should take their child without their permission.

“If another guardian is to collect them, schools must document this and enforce the policy rigorously,” he continued.

He also expressed worries regarding the journey to school, highlighting that some pupils depend on tricycle operators, motorcycle riders, or even unmonitored school bus drivers.

Some of these drivers, he noted, engage in dangerous or careless behaviors, including driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Parents should thoroughly assess transportation arrangements. Don’t merely assume a school bus is safe or that a known motorcycle rider can be trusted. Vet the drivers, inquire, and demand accountability,” he recommended.

Overcrowding is a hidden crisis.

Mr. Kabir Isa, founder of Inventive Tutors in Osogbo, pointed out the issue of overcrowding, describing it as a hidden crisis that undermines education in Nigeria.

Parents reading Back to School Nigeria 2025/2026 Tips for Parents are encouraged to ask schools tough questions about class sizes and push for better learning arrangements.

He observed that certain classrooms, especially in public schools, contain between 80 and 100 students at once, rendering effective teaching nearly impossible.

“When you cram 90 children into a room designed for 30, you’re not involved in teaching—you’re merely storing them.”

“Teachers are unable to provide individual support, students struggle to focus, and the overall standard of education deteriorates. The health risks linked to this situation should also be taken seriously,” he stated.

While recognizing that schools in Osun will officially reopen on September 22, he encouraged officials to utilize this time to tackle overcrowding, even if it requires splitting sessions or implementing staggered schedules.

He contended that addressing class size should be prioritized urgently.

“Parents need to inquire about the number of students in their child’s class. If a classroom is overcrowded, they should push for alternatives.

“Overcrowding hinders learning just as much as inadequate facilities or issues of safety,” he cautioned.

As Nigerian children begin a new school year, specialists emphasize that safety, dignity, and quality must be at the forefront of reopening strategies.

For parents, the message is straightforward: do not concentrate solely on tuition and supplies—consider where your child sits, how they travel to school, and whether their safety is assured.

Because until educational institutions become genuinely safe and supportive, the enthusiasm of a new term will continue to be clouded by persistent challenges, they all asserted.

Key Points for Parents

Inspect your child’s school environment: leaking roofs, broken desks, and a lack of sanitation affect learning.
Confirm safety arrangements: ensure schools document who can pick up your child.
Evaluate transport options carefully—don’t assume buses or trusted riders are safe.
Ask about class sizes; overcrowded classrooms limit effective teaching.
Demand accountability from schools and local authorities.

As Nigerian children begin a new school year, the essence of Back to School Nigeria 2025/2026 Tips for Parents is clear: don’t just focus on tuition and supplies; look at safety, learning conditions, and class sizes. Only then can the excitement of resumption truly mean progress for children