AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Parents of pupils in private primary and secondary schools are grappling with fresh financial pressures as schools resume, with many institutions introducing new rules that go beyond increased tuition fees.
Apart from higher school fees, several schools now dictate the type of meals pupils should bring for lunch, insisting on structured feeding patterns that emphasise balanced diets.
Findings show that many schools have adopted a “balanced diet lunch formula,” which includes designated “fruit days.” Under the new policy, a child is expected to bring a particular meal type only twice a week.
Any repetition beyond that is rejected by the school. In addition, two days each week are reserved exclusively for fruits.
While school managements argue that the policy is in the best interest of pupils’ health and academic performance, many parents are struggling to keep pace with the new demands amid the country’s harsh economic realities.
An educationist, Martins Ogbemudia, explained that balanced diets are critical to children’s cognitive function, learning capacity, and overall growth.
Similarly, a school proprietor, Felix Ayowale, stressed that proper nutrition enhances pupils’ academic performance, noting that “a well-nourished child learns better.”
Some parents who spoke with reporters admitted that although the policy is financially burdensome, they have chosen to comply for the sake of their children’s wellbeing and educational progress.
