Dear Editor,
I am writing to bring to light the dire state of education in Ogijo, Ogun State—a situation that desperately calls for concern, reflection, and immediate action.
The educational standard in Ogijo is not just declining—it is deteriorating at an alarming rate. The blame is collective and must be shared by school owners, educational officials, teachers, parents, and even the students themselves.
Many school proprietors in Ogijo have lost sight of the true purpose of education. Schools are increasingly being established with profit-making as the sole objective rather than the noble mission of shaping lives. Academic performance, emotional development, and mental well-being of pupils are sidelined. In some cases, over 170 students are cramped into a single JSS1 class, erasing any difference between public and private schooling in the area. This overcrowding makes quality education impossible.
Sadly, some education officials have become complicit in this failure. Bribes are allegedly collected from school owners, and rather than enforcing standards, these officials advise on how to inflate enrollment and hike school fees, all for selfish gain. This kind of corruption eats deeply into the fabric of quality education.
A growing number of teachers are unqualified or indifferent to the academic progress of their students. Many lack classroom management skills, and worse still, some were hired without the necessary training. School owners pay meagre or delayed salaries, making it difficult for teachers to stay motivated. The result is a disinterested and disheartened teaching force.
In addition, most schools in Ogijo lack essential facilities—no well-equipped laboratories, no functional libraries, no conducive learning environments. Poor-quality textbooks are used, and essential subjects like science and technology suffer as a result.
Parents are not left out of this crisis. Many show little or no concern for their children’s academic journey. Some insist on fast-tracking their children through school by demanding they skip classes, leading to gross under-preparedness. Imagine a child taking BECE in JSS2 and sitting for WASSCE in SS2 at just 14 years old. These children often struggle to cope in higher education and become easily overwhelmed.
Lastly, many students in Ogijo lack the motivation to learn. Disrespect for education is common, and examination malpractice has become normalized. It is disheartening to hear slogans like “School na scam” among young people. While a few students remain dedicated and well-behaved, they are often shy and too few in number to influence their peers positively. Dropping out due to pregnancy, cultism, or cybercrime is now far too frequent.
I am making a heartfelt plea to the Honourable Commissioner for Education in Ogun State and to all educational administrators: please do not turn a blind eye to Ogijo. The situation is spiraling out of control. We need reforms. We need monitoring. We need accountability.
Education in Ogijo is crying for help.
Yours faithfully,
Blessing Iyanuayo (Not Real Name)
