The Ondo state government has banned graduation parties for
nursery and junior secondary school students, citing the financial burden such
ceremonies place on parents and guardians.
Bisi Lawani, press officer at the state’s education
ministry, issued a statement communicating the ban on Wednesday.
The PRO said Igbekele Ajibefun, the ministry’s commissioner,
gave the directive during a stakeholder meeting with all proprietors and
proprietresses in the state’s 18 LGAs.
Ajibefun explained that the policy aims to reduce
unnecessary expenses for parents and redirect focus to academic achievement at
the end of primary and secondary school cycles.
He said the state government has also prohibited illegal and
unregistered schools and is set to re-accredit all private schools for quality
assurance.
“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,” Ajibefun was quoted as saying.
The ban in Ondo state is coming after similar policy moves
in Benue and Imo states.
On August 17, Imo’s commissioner for education Bernard
Ikegwuoha addressed parents, guardians, and school proprietors in a memo dated
August 15.
He said only primary 6 and senior secondary school students
are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4
education system.
On August 21, Helen
Nambativ, permanent secretary at Benue’s education ministry, also announced a
ban on graduation parties usually organised by kindergarten, nursery and basic
schools in the state.
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