On Wednesday, Ondo State announced a ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery pupils and Junior Secondary School, JSS 3 students. Additionally, it has forbidden the practice of forcing parents to purchase new textbooks each academic year.
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The state government described this practice as unnecessary, exploitative, and a burdensome financial strain on parents. They emphasized that graduation ceremonies should only be held for pupils completing Primary Six and Senior Secondary School, SS 3, as these are the officially recognized exit points in the state’s education system.
A few weeks prior, Edo, Imo, and Benue states also eliminated graduation ceremonies in kindergarten, nursery, and basic schools, along with the use of customized textbooks.
During a meeting with private school proprietors in Akure, the Commissioner for Education revealed that the decision was made after reports indicated that some schools were pressuring parents to spend large amounts on extravagant ceremonies, uniforms, and souvenirs for their children.
Ajibefun mentioned that siblings of a pupil should be permitted to share the same instructional materials for a certain period to alleviate the financial burden on families. He also noted that the government is already working on digitizing all schools in the state.
The Education Commissioner further disclosed that plans are underway to transition students in public primary and secondary schools to the ministry’s digital learning platform.
He highlighted that this initiative would enhance access to quality education, ensure consistency, and foster accountability across schools.
Moreover, he warned school proprietors against compromising academic standards, stating that any institution failing to meet the government’s “irreducible minimum” requirements would face closure.