At different eras and regimes, the Nigerian national government have made several efforts to make education accessible to all through its free education policy. while some recorded remarkable success, others resulted into utter failure. The researcher felt the need to critically examine the concept of free education and probe into the very nature of the education itself. The researcher adopted the inductive approach by raising questions. The findings of this paper is that education cannot be entirely free, as there is always a price to pay and the nature of the education itself betrays its primary purpose and consequently, other purposes. Borrowing from existing examples, this paper suggested some tactical and strategic reforms and concluded that Nigeria’s education, which is “free” would not be its own until radical reforms are made.

The study compares the academic performance of music students at Nkonya Senior High School from 2011 to 2016 based on year groups. The goal of the study was to determine the courses, effects, recommended remedies, and measures put in place to improve academic performance. The data was collected and analyzed utilizing a qualitative and quantitative analysis (triangulation) study technique from October 2016 to February 2017. The study discovered that a lack of parental support, poverty, absenteeism, individual mental capacities, and the involvement of school officials all contribute to changes in academic performance. Boys were found to be missing more frequently in external examinations than girls, according to the data. However, when looking at overall academic achievement over a six-year period, boys outperform girls. The study suggests that music students, music teachers, and school administration all play important roles in raising the school’s academic level. This will maintain students’ interest in music and ensure that the student population in the subject continues to expand year after year. To ensure parity in academic achievement in following years, the music teacher should identify strategies to increase female students’ enthusiasm in the subject. Parents should also supply necessary academic resources and supervise children’s attendance to prevent truancy and absenteeism. This will enhance academic achievement of pupils at Nkonya Senior High School.