By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery and kindergarten pupils across all public and private schools in the state.
The directive was issued in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, M.A.K. Jimoh, and addressed to education stakeholders across the state.
According to the circular, the decision was informed by growing concerns over the financial burden imposed on parents, loss of instructional time, and the increasing commercialization of early childhood education through elaborate graduation parties.
“Henceforth, graduation ceremonies and parties shall only be permitted for pupils completing Primary 6 and students in **Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3),” the circular stated
The Ministry emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to quality and functional education, urging schools to prioritize academic excellence over non-essential celebrations.
In addition to the ban, the Ministry also issued a directive on textbook usage in private and faith-based schools:
Schools must adhere strictly to the approved list of textbooks.
Each textbook must be used for a minimum of three academic sessions.
Pupils are expected to reuse textbooks previously used by their siblings for at least three years.
The use of workbooks embedded in textbooks is strictly prohibited, as it encourages waste and increases costs for parents.
The circular warned that any school found violating these policies will face disciplinary measures, including fines or suspension of registration.
To enforce compliance, the Ministry announced that monitoring teams will conduct random inspections in schools across the state.
The government called on school administrators, parents, and other stakeholders to support the reforms aimed at restoring the integrity and purpose of education in Osun State.
