issued a sweeping directive prohibiting graduation ceremonies for students in kindergarten, nursery, and JSS3. The policy, announced via an August 15 memo from the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, aligns with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education framework, allowing graduation celebrations only for Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School 3 students.
This measure stems from growing concerns over financial strain on parents, with the commissioner citing frequent ceremonies as unnecessary and diverting attention from academic milestones at critical transitions. In the same memo, schools were instructed to stop changing textbooks annually; instead, approved booklists are now mandated for use over a four-year cycle to aid cost-saving and improve consistency in learning.
The National Orientation Agency has lent support to the policy, praising it as a timely and wise move toward instilling discipline and moderation in educational culture. NOA’s Director-General emphasized that extravagant practices often cultivate unrealistic expectations and reduce the value of hard-earned academic achievements.
By abolishing early-stage graduation ceremonies and curbing textbook inflation, Imo State is attempting to prioritize meaningful education while easing economic burdens on families. This decisive policy reform seeks to reinforce academic focus, financial prudence, and a value-driven learning environment.
Sonia Orjiako