End of Term Reflections: Challenges, Tragedies, and Teacher Commitments

Today marks the end of the term in Lagos State, which operates a unique academic calendar compared to other states in Nigeria. Unlike most states, where a term typically lasts 13 weeks, Lagos State usually runs a 15-week term. However, this term was slightly different, lasting only 14 weeks, with one week set aside for a midterm break. Each state has its own distinct approach to managing its educational system, which reflects its priorities and strategies.

As we close for the term, the holiday period officially begins. We have a three-week break, with work resuming on the first Monday in January. However, while the students enjoy their break, it’s important to note that teachers are often not afforded the same luxury. Many people believe that teachers have ample free time during holidays to focus on personal development or other activities. Unfortunately, this is far from reality. Our employer has clarified that the holiday is primarily for the students, not for the teachers. As a result, teachers are required to remain engaged with various training programs and state-level activities scheduled during the break. For instance, even though students vacated today, teachers are expected to continue working for an additional week, fulfilling various responsibilities at both the school and state levels.

Today was unusual for me because I arrived at work an hour late, which rarely happened. However, since the students finished their examinations yesterday, many of them didn’t bother coming to school today. In my class, which has 122 students, only 40 showed up. This low turnout was not surprising, as most students see no reason to attend school after their exams are over.

As part of the end-of-term activities, we held a year-end meeting to officially close the academic session. During the meeting, we discussed several important matters, including the students' report cards and the criteria for promotion to the next class. We reviewed the scores and emphasized the key subjects that determine whether a student qualifies for promotion. After the meeting, the teachers and the few students who came to school participated in cleaning the school premises and their classrooms. Each class teacher supervised their students to ensure the cleaning was done properly and efficiently.

Once the cleaning was completed, we escorted the students off the school premises. This precaution was taken to avoid any cases of missing students to ensure that all children left the school safely. Sadly, however, we received the devastating news that one of our students had died in a motor accident on his way home. While the incident did not occur near the school or its gates, it was still a tragic loss for our school community. The student was reportedly close to his house when the accident happened, making the news even more heartbreaking.