The Imo State Government has announced a ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery and Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) students, saying such events impose an unnecessary financial burden on parents and guardians.
The directive was contained in a memo signed by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, dated August 15, 2025, with reference number MOEPS/COMMR/2025/VOL. 1/155, and addressed to parents, guardians, and school proprietors.
According to Ikegwuoha, only Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School (SSS 3) students will henceforth be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies, in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is committed to providing quality and functional education to all students.
Henceforth, graduation ceremonies and parties for Kindergarten, Nursery, and JSS 3 students are hereby abolished,” the memo read.
He explained that the move is aimed at reducing avoidable costs for parents and ensuring that graduation ceremonies are tied to major academic milestones at the end of the primary and secondary school cycles.
In addition, the Commissioner directed schools to discontinue the practice of changing textbooks annually.
He said approved books must be retained for a minimum of four years to reduce costs for families and encourage continuity in teaching.
“Proprietors of faith-based and private schools must adhere to the approved list of textbooks. Frequent changes are financially burdensome for parents and undermine educational stability. By adopting the approved textbooks for the specified period, schools can foster a more efficient and effective learning environment,” Ikegwuoha stated.
The policy takes immediate effect and is binding on all public and private schools across the state.
