Ondo State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery pupils and Junior Secondary School, JSS 3 students.
The state government stressed that graduation ceremonies should be limited to pupils completing Primary Six and Senior Secondary School, SS 3, as these remain the officially recognised exit points in the state’s education system.
The government also prohibited the practice of compelling parents to buy new textbooks every academic session describing it as unnecessary, exploitative, and a needless financial burden on parents.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed this in Akure during a meeting with proprietors and proprietress of private schools.
Ajibefun said the decision followed reports that some schools compel parents to spend huge sums on elaborate ceremonies, uniforms, and souvenirs for pupils.
Ajibefun, who stated that siblings of a pupil should be allowed to use the same instructional materials for a period of time to ease the financial burden on households, stressed that government was already working on the digitisation of all schools in the state.
Commissioner emphasized that private schools operating without approval would be given a six-month grace period to regularize their status, warning that “when you run an unapproved school, you are running an illegal business.”
Ajibefun also highlighted other key measures, including a ban on compulsory extra lessons after regular school hours and the prohibition of excursions without Ministry clearance, citing security concerns.
The Education Commissioner also revealed that plans are at an advanced stage to migrate students in public primary and secondary schools onto the ministry’s digital learning platform.
He emphasised that the move would improve access to quality education, ensure uniformity, and promote accountability across schools.
He further cautioned proprietors against lowering academic standards, warning that any school unable to meet the government’s “irreducible minimum” requirements would be shut down.
Recall that Edo, Imo, and Benue states had earlier banned graduation ceremonies in kindergarten, nursery, and basic schools, as well as the use of customised books also.
