- Teachers, pupils ready as 2026/2027 session begins
- Textbooks, uniforms, feeding, transport costs squeeze families
- Ondo Govt, police assure parents of adequate school security
As schools across Ondo State begin the 2026/2027 academic session on Monday, parents and teachers have expressed their preparation for the new session, their expectations for the session and how the economic state of the country has affected their readiness for another academic year.
The Hope reliably gathered that some parents across the three Senatorial Districts had begun purchasing school materials, including uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, sandals and other essential items ahead of resumption, while others were adopting a gradual approach due to the financial demands involved.
It also learned that the situation made early planning particularly important for families with more than one school-age child, as the cost of meeting the educational needs of several children can place considerable pressure on household finances.
In Ondo Central Senatorial District, a parent and teacher, Mrs Lola Babalola said she had prepared her children emotionally, academically, and financially, by providing the necessary school materials, adding that her children were not only fully prepared but eager to return to school.
She expressed readiness to work closely with the school and other teachers to support her children’s academic progress, character development and overall well-being throughout the session.
As a teacher, Babalola stated that she had reviewed the curriculum and relevant schemes of work, prepared her lesson plans and instructional materials and set clear objectives for effective teaching and learning.
She said, “I have also reflected on the experiences and challenges of the previous session and identified areas that require improvement.
“My goal is to create a supportive, engaging and disciplined learning environment where every student has the opportunity to make meaningful academic and personal progress.”
Another parent and teacher, Mrs Nafisat Moshood, said that she had provided all the items needed by her son, such as books, bags and sandals, among others, while expecting the school to provide sound education that would bring the best out of her child.
“As an educator, I have prepared myself during the long vacation through reading, research and seminars, so that whatever I am going to teach in the new session will be up to date.
“I watched several videos that could assist me, because I want the students to understand whatever I am teaching,” she added.
A parent, Mr. Ilyas Hussaini, while thanking God for the commencement of another session, noted that he had not been able to prepare fully for the new session, due to financial constraint, but remained optimistic that things would get better as the term progressed.
Hussaini looked forward to his children receiving the best of education in the most conducive environment, adding that peace and security in the country would play a crucial role in achieving these.
Another parent, Mr. Martins Obi, noted that the current economic state of the country was capable of making most parents unable to meet the demands on them as the new session commenced.
However, he said, “My expectation is an improved learning experience for my child.
“Of course, I’m not expecting a reduction in any financial involvement; it’s a new session, most likely to meet a higher financial responsibility.”
Mr Alex Omojadegbe described his level of preparedness as high, having sorted part of the school fees, changed old uniforms, and purchased the required books.
While expecting his children to be more disciplined, improve on their academic performance and manage their time better in the new session, Omojadegbe looked forward to consistent communication, quality teaching, security of children, and improved extracurricular activities from the school.
Mrs Comfort Msheila pointed out that beyond academics, she had prepared her children mentally, knowing that they would be moving into new classes, adding that her expectation was to see them excel and surpass her in all ramifications.
According to Mr. Damola Ojenike, “There should be more preparation than buying books and looking for money to pay school fees; because our world is changing, we need to make preparation for security as well.”
While acknowledging that parents would have to adjust their lifestyles by waking up earlier to prepare meals for their children, Ojenike stressed the need for school children to be security conscious, hygienic and health conscious.
Mrs Kemi Lawani said the back-to-school period usually required careful budgeting because several expenses often arose at almost the same time.
She noted that, apart from school fees and learning materials, transportation and daily feeding also constituted significant parts of a family’s education budget.
According to her, the rising cost of goods and services had made it necessary for parents to prioritise their children’s educational needs and plan their spending carefully.
Mr. Ayeni said the best way to cope with the financial pressure was to start purchasing essential items early rather than waiting until a few days before schools reopened.
He said, “As parents, our priority is currently on the essential materials that our children need immediately upon resumption, while less urgent items can be purchased later.
“The economic situation has also made price comparison an important part of the preparation. I have to consider different markets and shops before purchasing school materials for my child.”
Ayeni, however, appealed to school authorities to be considerate in their charges, particularly regarding additional levies and other payments that could increase the financial burden on parents.
Mr. Oluwasina Ayobami, said he had spent over ₦50,000 on textbooks and writing materials for his children, describing the amount as almost twice what he spent during the previous academic session.
According to him, there had been a significant increase in the general prices of school materials compared with last year.
Despite the increase, Ayobami said he was still able to afford the required materials and had purchased all the books recommended by the school.
He stressed the importance of textbooks to students’ education, describing them as “important as the notes they write in school.”
Ayobami called for government intervention through subsidies and better price regulation to reduce the financial burden on parents and make educational materials more affordable.
A teacher, Mrs Funke Orisabo, said teachers had also prepared adequately ahead of resumption to ensure a smooth commencement of academic activities.
She said, “We are also preparing because the success of a new academic session does not depend on the students and parents alone.
“We need to organise our lesson plans, review the curriculum and prepare our classrooms before the students return.”
She also urged parents to encourage their children to resume with the right attitude towards learning, noting that academic success required cooperation among parents, teachers and students.
A school proprietress, Mrs Omolola Akinola, also spoke on the rising cost of school materials.
She said the current economic situation had affected the prices of virtually everything, compared with last year, including uniforms and textbooks.
According to her, the increase in textbook prices was relatively small, with some books recording an increase of about ₦200 to ₦300.
However, she noted that uniform materials had become significantly more expensive.
Akinola said the price of socks, for instance, had almost doubled compared with last year, adding to the financial burden on parents.
She also disclosed that her school had maintained the same school fees despite the rising cost of goods and services, saying increasing fees would place additional pressure on parents who were already complaining about the lack of money.
She explained that maintaining the same fees meant that school owners had to absorb some of the increased costs, particularly as staff salaries had also been increased.
Akinola said she had tried to keep the cost of school materials within a manageable range so that parents would not be overly affected, while also ensuring that the school did not bear the entire financial burden.
She expressed hope that the country’s economic situation would improve, saying better economic conditions would ease the pressure on both parents and school owners.
A bookseller, Mr. Alex Emeka, said business had become fairly busy as school resumption drew closer, with more parents visiting the shop to purchase textbooks, exercise books, writing materials and other school supplies.
He identified Mathematics, English Language, Basic Science and other core-subject textbooks as some of the most demanded items.
Alex said textbook prices were higher than they were last year, attributing the increase to the rising cost of printing materials, transportation, production and other goods and services.
He noted that many parents now complain about the prices, with some buying fewer items at a time, negotiating prices or purchasing materials gradually.
In Ondo North, a teacher at a private school, Miss Sarah Ogedengbe, said teachers were looking forward to the new session and had begun preparing their lesson plans and classrooms ahead of resumption.
Ogedengbe said teachers were committed to giving students the needed support and ensuring that the new session got off to a smooth start.
A parent in Ikare-Akoko, Mr Adedotun Ajayi, said he had completed most of the preparations for his two children, including the purchase of textbooks, uniforms and other school requirements.
He said the new academic session was an opportunity for his children to improve their performance and remain focused on their studies.
“I have made sure that everything they need for the first few weeks is ready. As parents, we have a responsibility to give our children the support they need to succeed in school,” Ajayi said.
Another parent, Mrs Funke Bello from Owo, said she was optimistic about the new session, adding that she had used the holiday period to prepare her children mentally and materially for school.
Bello said she was particularly pleased that her children were excited about returning to school and reconnecting with their classmates and teachers.
Meanwhile, the State Government assured parents and guardians of the safety of schoolchildren across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, gave the assurance while speaking with THE HOPE on measures being taken by the government to strengthen security in schools and prevent incidents similar to those recently reported in Oyo State.
Ajanaku said the state government had intensified security measures across schools, particularly those located in hinterland and border communities, to ensure a safe learning environment for pupils and students.
According to him, the government had constructed perimeter fencing around government-owned schools in the affected communities as part of measures to prevent unauthorised access and enhance the protection of schoolchildren.
He further disclosed that the government had employed three security personnel as staff members for each school in the identified areas, in addition to the presence of operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as the Amotekun Corps.
The commissioner said similar security measures had been put in place in schools located in cities and towns, with the deployment of Amotekun officers to complement existing security arrangements.
He explained that the deployment was also aimed at ensuring that security arrangements in schools across the state remained in compliance with the government’s policy on the protection of pupils, students and school personnel.
Ajanaku urged parents and guardians to remain calm, assuring them that the government was committed to providing a secure environment for teaching and learning.
He said, “I want to assure parents and guardians that schools across Ondo State are safe for resumption. Adequate security measures have been put in place to protect our children and ensure that they can learn in a safe and conducive environment.”
The commissioner reiterated the commitment of the state government to the safety and wellbeing of schoolchildren, urging parents to send their children to school without fear as academic activities commence on Monday.
Also, the Ondo State Police Command said it has strengthened security around schools through intelligence-led policing, increased patrols and visibility, as well as engagement with school authorities and other security agencies.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in an interview with THE HOPE that the police were also monitoring vulnerable areas and maintaining channels for rapid response to any emerging threat.
However, he said specific deployment details would not be disclosed for operational reasons.
Jimoh urged schools and parents to promptly report any suspicious person, movement or activity to the police, adding that the command’s Control Room could be reached on 0703 431 3903.
The Hope
