WRITTEN BY MOSOPEFOLUWA
Every new term carries its own quiet ceremony, the shuffle of new shoes not yet broken in, the gleam of a fresh haircut, backpacks still holding the shape of the shop shelf.
This morning, that ceremony played out at school gates across Ibadan, where students returned carrying a familiar blend of reluctance and quiet excitement, marking the close of one holiday and the opening of another track chapter.
At one such school, doors opened to both new and returning students, from JSS1 to SSS3, for a new academic session that began, as it always does, with morning assembly, a shared moment of prayer for students, parents and teachers before classrooms settled into orientation.
According to the school, this term’s ambitions stretch beyond textbooks and test scores.
Alongside academic performance, there’s a strong push for extracurricular activities and vocational skills, an approach the institution believes gives students a fuller shot at thriving, backed by a teaching staff it describes as qualified and genuinely invested in every child’s success.
Speaking with Almond FM, teachers were unanimous in their impression of the first day, saying students arrived prepared and enthusiastic, many clearly sharpened by holiday coaching, showing up eager and ready to give their best.
Their message to students for the term ahead was simple: consistent attendance, active engagement in class, and treating assignments as non-negotiable rather than an afterthought.
Students who spoke with Almond FM echoed a similar sentiment, mixed feelings, but mostly upbeat.
While a few confessed to missing the freedom of the holidays, particularly the luxury of sleeping in, far more voices leaned toward excitement: reuniting with old friends, settling into new classes, and easing back into the familiar rhythm of school life.
As the gates closed on another first day, one truth lingered in the air, louder than any assembly bell: the holiday has ended, but for these students, something far more lasting has just begun.
And with the Oyo State Police Command rolling out its Safe School Initiative, deploying volunteers to schools and intelligence operatives to vulnerable areas across the state, parents can send their children off this term with one less thing to worry about.
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