By Simeon Tuyoleni
Walk into a classroom and you see it, some learners following every word, others are stuck on the first line, a few lost focus, and a teacher moving between them all, trying to hold one class together while everyone is in a different place.
Many learners are struggling quietly. One stares at the page, not sure if they understand. Another is drawing to pass the time while the confusion is growing, then the other tries a problem but stops because it doesn’t make sense.
Without attention, their confidence drops and learning starts to feel more like a chore. Their brains start slowing down as they struggle to keep moving with no help.
The teacher moves constantly, jumping from one student to another. They explain a tricky concept to one, challenge a fast learner who finished early and check on a quiet one who has not said a word all lesson.
Attention is always shifting, back and forth, never settling. The lessons are short, 40 to 80 minutes, and the class has 30 learners, all at different levels and with different interests. Imagine trying to do something well while constantly running out of time, you rush, you try and every minute feels heavier, and the pressure keeps building.
There is never enough time, teachers do what they think will help the most in the moment. They focus on what seems urgent, or on the learners who show they are paying attention. By the end of the lesson, the teacher is tired, knowing that in the next class, the same thing will happen over and over again. Thirty learners, different levels, limited time, impossible expectations, and this effort repeats over and over again, day after day.
Look at the classroom as a whole, and you see the pattern forming. The students who had guidance early keep moving forward, answering questions, finishing exercises, and staying engaged. The ones who missed structured learning struggle with even small tasks, fall behind on the basics, and hesitate to participate and some stop trying altogether because each lesson feels like a chore they can’t finish. The noise of the classroom, the constant movement, and the mix of levels make it almost impossible for the teacher to give attention to everyone. Over time, the class becomes uneven, with some thriving and others silently falling behind, unnoticed.
This is why we see the realities of the education system today. The teacher, the excelling learners, and the struggling learners are all in the same classroom. Those who had strong early childhood foundations move forward more easily. Those who missed out start behind and struggle to catch up, no matter how hard the teacher tries, lessons are short, classrooms are crowded, and attention is limited and this cycle will keep repeating over and over again, and the recent results does make it clear.
So the question remains, in a system where teachers must guide learners with very different needs, how do we make sure every child has a chance to reach their full potential?
*Simeon Tuyoleni is a software engineer and founder of Asmbly, a startup focused on supporting the education system.
