By Divine Sam
As schools across Nigeria resumed for the 2025/2026 academic session on Monday, September 15, many parents and guardians have expressed deep concern over the rising cost of educational materials amid growing economic hardship.
A visit by our correspondent to several schools in Ibadan revealed that numerous parents were visibly distressed, with some even shedding tears over their inability to afford textbooks, uniforms, and other essential school supplies for their children.
It will be recalled that both public and private schools across the country resumed simultaneously, marking the start of a new academic year.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Popoola Abimbola Grace, the principal of Ibadan’s prominent height College in Oluyole, acknowledged the challenges faced by both schools and parents. Despite the college grappling with limited resources to upgrade infrastructure and provide adequate furniture, she maintained that Height remains committed to academic excellence.
“We are fully prepared for the new session,” she said. “We’ve conducted seminars and training for both returning and newly recruited teachers. Our staff includes professionals with over 25 to 30 years of classroom experience. The new teachers, all of whom are graduates, are expected to benefit greatly from the mentorship of our seasoned educators.”
Mr. Grace emphasized that quality education requires the joint effort of schools, parents, and society at large. She urged parents to see education as a worthwhile investment in their children’s future.
Schools visited during the field report include New Life School (Olusoji Road), Monarch Model College (Molete), Christ Ambassador School (Oluyole), Valencia College (Oluyole), St. Luke’s Grammar School (Molete), St. Anne’s Girls School (Molete), and Concord Group of Schools (Ring Road), among others.
Many parents also called on the Federal Government to address the rising cost of living, particularly by reducing fuel prices, which they say have caused the cost of goods and services including school supplies to skyrocket.
“The cost of petrol has driven everything up,” one parent lamented. “We are struggling to survive, and now we can’t even afford to send our children back to school properly. Worse still, money is simply not circulating in the economy.”
As the academic year begins, the cries of parents and the dedication of educators like those at height College highlight the urgent need for comprehensive policy actions to support Nigeria’s struggling educational system.
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