Feature
As the morning sun slowly breaks through the clouds, the familiar sound of school bells returns to communities across Ekiti State. Students dressed in neatly pressed uniforms hurry through the streets, some excited to see their friends again, while others quietly wonder what the new academic session will bring.
For thousands of pupils and students across the state, the reopening of schools on September 14, 2026, marked more than the beginning of another term. It was another opportunity to learn, build friendships and take another step towards their dreams. Public and private schools across Ekiti resumed for the first term of the 2026/2027 academic session.
Behind the excitement of resumption, however, lies a bigger question: what does it take to keep a child in school and help that child succeed? For some students, returning to school means meeting new classmates, seeing teachers again and opening a fresh notebook.
For others, it comes with challenges such as the cost of school materials, transportation, feeding and other educational needs.The issue is particularly important in a country where millions of children remain outside the classroom. UNICEF says about 10.5 million Nigerian children aged 5–14 are out of school, despite primary education being officially free and compulsory. Ekiti has continued to place attention on improving access to education. The state government has reiterated its commitment to quality teaching and learning as schools begin the new academic session. But education is not only about buildings, textbooks or examination results. It is also about the children sitting behind the desks.
A student who walks several kilometres to school may see education differently from one who is dropped off at the school gate. A child whose parents struggle to provide school materials may experience the classroom differently from one who has everything needed for learning.
Yet, despite these differences, the dream remains similar. To learn. To graduate. To become somebody. Teachers also carry an important part of this dream. Every school day presents another opportunity for them to influence young minds, identify struggling students and encourage those who may be losing confidence. The reopening of schools therefore offers more than a calendar date. It is a reminder that education is a shared responsibility involving government, teachers, parents, communities and the students themselves.
As the new academic year progresses, the hope is that classrooms will remain places where children are not only taught how to pass examinations, but are also given the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to build their future.For the students walking through the school gates this September, the journey has begun again. A new term. A new opportunity. And, for many, another chance to turn a classroom dream into reality.
