The Imo State Government has placed an immediate ban on graduation parties for kindergarten, nursery, and Junior Secondary School students, insisting the move is aimed at easing financial pressure on parents while strengthening the academic focus of schools.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, in a circular sent to parents, guardians, and education stakeholders across the state.
As part of the policy, school owners have also been instructed to end the frequent annual change of textbooks, which Ikegwuoha described as “financially draining and destabilising” for families.
The memo, dated August 15, 2025, with reference number MOEPS/COMMR/2025/VOL.1/155, and titled “Policy on Education for Public and Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Imo State,” stressed that the guidelines take effect immediately.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Imo State is committed to providing quality and functional education to all students. To achieve this goal, the Ministry has established guidelines on graduation ceremonies and textbook usage in schools,” the statement read.
According to the commissioner, only pupils completing Primary 6 and students finishing Senior Secondary School are eligible to hold graduation ceremonies under the new rules.
“Henceforth, ceremonies and parties for kindergarten, nursery and JSS3 students are hereby abolished,” he said.
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On the issue of textbooks, Ikegwuoha announced that schools must stick to the government-approved list for at least four years to enable children from the same family to reuse them.
He warned private and faith-based schools against disregarding the directive, noting that repeated changes burden parents and disrupt learning.
“By adopting the approved textbooks and allowing them to be used for the specified period, schools can promote a more efficient and effective learning environment,” he added.
The ministry further revealed that compliance would be strictly monitored, with sanctions awaiting defaulters.
Meanwhile, several residents of the state have applauded the development on social media, describing it as a welcome step to curb exploitative practices by school proprietors, particularly the use of graduation events to extort parents.
