Primary and secondary schools across Lagos State resumed on Monday, May 4, 2026, for the third term of the 2025/2026 academic session, but indications suggest that many classrooms may not be filled immediately.
Findings by The Nigeria Education News show that first-week attendance is often influenced by a mix of parental decisions, student disposition, and school practices, rather than the official resumption date alone.
Mr. Idowu Johnson, proprietor of JID Academy, explained that parents play a central role in determining when students return.
“Students are still under the control of their parents. If a child is not ready to resume, it often becomes a parental decision,” he said, noting that factors such as a child’s physical readiness, especially for those with special needs, can delay resumption.
He, however, emphasised that early return to school is important, as the first week is often used for revision and to address learning gaps.
Beyond parental influence, student attitude also plays a role. Lagos-based educator, Olawuyi Balqees, said many students struggle to adjust from the relaxed holiday routine to the structure of school life.
“There is usually a holiday mindset. Students get used to flexibility, so returning to early mornings and strict schedules can be difficult,” she said.
She added that the nature of activities in the first week discourages early attendance in some cases.
“In many schools, the first few days are for general cleaning. When students feel they are coming mainly for sanitation, it reduces their motivation to resume immediately,” she noted.
Financial constraints are another factor, as resumption often coincides with demands for school fees, textbooks, and transportation costs, forcing some parents to delay.
Students who spoke to The Nigeria Education News expressed mixed reactions. While some said they would resume later in the week or the following week due to limited academic activities at the start, others insisted they would return on the first day regardless.
“I will still resume, even if we may not learn much on the first day,” one student said.
There are also cases of students staying away to avoid being sent home over unpaid fees, contributing to the gradual build-up of attendance.
As the third term begins, stakeholders say improving how schools structure the first week and addressing financial pressures on families could help ensure that more students return promptly and fully engage from the start of the term.
