By Ibrahim Babangida Lawal
Once upon a time, homework was simple—just a bit of extra practice after school, meant to help students revise, stay focused, and grow into independent learners. But for many families today, that idea feels like a distant memory. In countless homes, what used to be a light academic extension has turned into an overwhelming daily struggle, leaving both students and their parents feeling stretched and stressed.
So how did we get here?
At the heart of the issue is a school system increasingly driven by numbers—test scores, performance rankings, and measurable results. Under pressure to prove that learning is happening, many teachers resort to assigning mountains of homework. It’s not necessarily their fault. Often, they’re following directives from school authorities or simply trying to keep up with unrealistic benchmarks. But the result is a flood of assignments that are more about quantity than quality.
The irony? This approach often kills the curiosity it’s supposed to ignite. Instead of sparking questions or creative thinking, many homework tasks today are repetitive, rigid, and dull. Instead of learning to love learning, students begin to see schoolwork as a never-ending chore. And that’s a loss for everyone.
Perhaps more worrying is the new role parents are being forced to play. In many homes, homework time has become a nightly ordeal, with parents stepping in as unofficial teachers—solving math problems, rewriting essays, or trying to make sense of complicated instructions. What was meant to be a student’s responsibility has quietly shifted to become a family affair.
This doesn’t just create tension around the dinner table. It also distorts the very point of homework. When parents are the ones doing the heavy lifting, how can teachers really know what a child has understood? And more importantly, how does the child learn to think and work on their own?
And then there’s the issue of fairness.
Not all families have the same resources or time. A parent who works long shifts or struggles with the language of instruction can’t always help out, even if they desperately want to. Meanwhile, more privileged families might hire tutors or dedicate hours to guiding their kids through school tasks. This means that instead of bridging learning gaps, homework can deepen them—unintentionally punishing children based on their parents’ circumstances.
Clearly, something needs to change.
Homework isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it can be a powerful tool when it’s used with care. But educators and policymakers must take a step back and ask: what are we really trying to achieve? Are we assigning work to check a box, or are we trying to encourage deeper thinking and personal growth?
The truth is, the home is not a second classroom—and parents are not stand-in teachers. The pressure to turn living rooms into learning centers is unfair and unsustainable. It’s time we recognized that.
If we truly want to raise thoughtful, independent, and capable learners, then we need to ease up on the overload and trust in more balanced approaches. Thoughtful, purposeful assignments—not endless ones—should be the norm. Let’s give children room to breathe, space to reflect, and the freedom to discover learning on their own terms.
Because when homework stops helping, it’s not just the students who suffer—it’s the whole family.
