Two days after the resumption of schools in Lagos State, school proprietors say many of the students returned without reading and writing materials.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos in separate interviews that it was unusual for students to start a new academic session without at least 70 per cent of their textbooks ready.
Mrs Ifejola Dada, the President of the Association for Formidable Education Development, confirmed that most pupils resumed school without textbooks in her school.
Dada said this was a new development unlike what obtained in the past when pupils resumed on the first day with their school materials ready.
She attributed the development to the current recession in the country.
“We are not talking about the school fees now because it is obvious that the recession is biting hard on parents and guardians.
“We could not even increase the school fees but what we are battling now is the children’s readiness for school as indicated by the purchase of textbooks,’’ she said.
On his part, Mr Kalu Orji, the Proprietor of Rockford Private School, Ikorodu, said the effect of the recession on students and their parents was very visible now that the students had resumed.
Orji said that apart from parents of new intakes who had met the school requirements, most of the old timers were still to meet up with the demands of the new session.
“Before resumption, I had to put things in place in my school since it was a new session to make the parents happy on resumption.
“However, it was not easy because funds were limited as a result of poor response to fee payment and the hike in the prices of things.
“Parents and pupils are affected because most of the pupils do not have the necessary school items yet,’’ the proprietor said.
Also Mrs Gladys Grimes, the Proprietress of Gladys and Grimes Educational Service, Alagbado, said that there was an exceptionally low turnout of students for the new session.
She said that it was difficult to tell whether the students had met the requirements for resumption because of the low turnout.
Grimes added that resumption was usually not rapid but that turnout had been exceptionally low this session. (NAN)
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