FCT Pupils Express Concerns as Schools Reopen After Prolonged Strike

Public primary school pupils in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have voiced concern and uncertainty as they return to class following the suspension of a three-month-long teachers’ strike.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, the pupils shared their mixed emotions—relieved to be back at school but anxious about recovering lost academic ground.

The FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had on Tuesday announced an end to the strike, instructing members to resume work on Wednesday. The decision came after a stakeholders’ meeting convened by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on July 3, aimed at resolving the standoff.

The strike, which began on March 24, 2025, was in protest over unpaid salary arrears and the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage for primary school teachers.

Several pupils expressed concern over the academic time lost and the challenge of catching up.

Joshua Peter, a Primary Four pupil, said that while many of his peers were happy to return, they were unsettled by the fact that private schools were already writing exams and preparing for holidays.

“We’ve already missed the entire second term. Pupils in private schools are finishing up and heading for the holidays, but we’re just resuming without knowing how we’ll cover what we missed,” he said.

He also noted that although school had resumed, normal academic activities had yet to begin. “So far, teachers only asked us to clean the compound. We’re still waiting for lessons to start,” he added.

Similarly, another pupil, Mercy Gwoza, shared her fears that the teachers might rush through lessons to make up for lost time.

“I just hope they won’t speed through the topics or stop teaching again,” she said.

For Jamiu Mahmoud, the joy of seeing his classmates again was mixed with worry about coping academically after such a long break.

“I just pray I can catch up. I don’t want my grades to suffer,” he said.

Some parents also expressed concern about the strike’s impact on their children’s education. Mrs. Manji Amos said while she was glad schools had reopened, the learning disruption was troubling.

“The children are far behind now. The school and teachers need to work together to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” she urged.

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Education consultant and school owner, Mr. Tanimu Abdulmalik, recommended that schools begin with quick assessments to determine each pupil’s academic standing and learning gaps.

“They can start with short tests or oral questions in core subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, then prioritise critical topics that students need to move forward,” he advised.

Abdulmalik also suggested measures such as implementing a compressed curriculum, extending school hours, or organising weekend lessons to help pupils catch up.

Meanwhile, in several other schools visited, pupils were seen sitting idle in classrooms with no teachers present.