Ondo State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery and junior secondary school pupils due to the attendant the financial burden on parents and guardians.
This was in a statement on Wednesday by the education ministry’s spokesman, Bisi Lawani.
The statement said the commissioner, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, gave the directive during a stakeholder meeting with all school proprietors and proprietresses statewide
Ajibefun explained that the policy aims to reduce unnecessary expenses for parents and redirect focus to academic achievement at the end of primary and secondary school cycles.
He said the state government has also prohibited illegal and unregistered schools and is set to re-accredit all private schools for quality assurance.
“It is obvious that things have gone bad in the education sector; there are urgent issues we need to address so that we can bring back the lost glory,” Ajibefun was quoted as saying.
The ban in Ondo state is coming after similar policy moves in Benue and Imo states.
On August 17, Imo’s commissioner for education Bernard Ikegwuoha addressed parents, guardians, and school proprietors in a memo dated August 15.
He said only primary 6 and senior secondary school students are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
On August 21, Helen Nambativ, permanent secretary at Benue’s education ministry, also announced a ban on graduation parties usually organised by kindergarten, nursery and basic schools in the state.
