School resumption: Ajadi sends important message to government

As schools across the country resume a new academic session, South West Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has raised strong concerns over what he described as the unnecessary and frequent change of textbooks by both government and private schools.

Ajadi, who is also a businessman and philanthropist, lamented that the practice has continued to heap untold financial strain on parents who are already grappling with the harsh realities of the current economic situation in the country.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ajadi recalled how, in previous years, families managed their educational expenses by passing textbooks down from older children to their younger siblings, thereby reducing household costs.

He noted with dismay that this long-standing tradition has now been eroded due to the insistence of schools on introducing new textbooks every term or session.

“The attitude of both private and government schools in changing textbooks every term has forced parents to continuously buy new books for their children in different classes,” Ajadi stated. “During our time, siblings reused the textbooks of their elders. I am urging the government to stop this practice. Parents are groaning in pain.”

The NNPP chieftain further called on the Minister of Education and State Governors to urgently address the matter, stressing that the frequent changes were unjustifiable and exploitative.

He also urged both federal and state governments to consider subsidizing the cost of textbooks as a way of supporting struggling families and ensuring that education remains accessible to all.

“I pity parents who are compelled to buy different sets of textbooks for their children every term,” he said. “This should not be happening. Governments at all levels must step in to regulate this practice and provide relief to parents through subsidies.”

Ajadi emphasized that unless deliberate action is taken to check the trend, many children risk being denied access to quality education simply because their parents cannot keep up with the recurring cost of new textbooks.