Three states ban basic school graduation parties, give reasons

The Ondo State government has made the decision to ban graduation parties for nursery and junior secondary school students, a move designed to alleviate the financial strain such elaborate ceremonies impose on parents and guardians.

This announcement was made by Bisi Lawani, the press officer at the state’s education ministry, in a statement released on Wednesday.

The directive was instigated by Igbekele Ajibefun, the commissioner for education, during a recent stakeholder meeting that brought together proprietors and proprietresses from all 18 local government areas of the state.

Ajibefun articulated the rationale behind the policy, emphasizing the need to alleviate unnecessary expenses for families and to shift the focus back to academic achievements at the conclusion of primary and secondary school cycles.

In addition to the ban on graduation parties, the state government is also taking measures to combat the issue of illegal and unregistered schools, with plans to re-accredit all private educational institutions to ensure quality assurance.

Ajibefun stressed the urgency of addressing the myriad challenges currently plaguing the education sector, remarking, “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.”

This recent ban in Ondo State follows similar actions taken in Benue and Imo states.

On August 17, Imo’s commissioner for education, Bernard Ikegwuoha, communicated to parents, guardians, and school proprietors through a memo dated August 15.

His instructions stipulated that only students in primary 6 and those in senior secondary school are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies, in accordance with Nigeria’s established 6-3-3-4 education system.

Shortly thereafter, on August 21, Helen Nambativ, the permanent secretary at Benue’s education ministry, echoed this sentiment by announcing a ban on the graduation parties that are typically organized by kindergarten, nursery, and basic schools within the state.

This series of regulatory measures underscores a growing trend among Nigerian states to reform and prioritize educational integrity and financial prudence in the schooling process.