The Imo State Government has abolished graduation ceremonies and parties for pupils in kindergarten, nursery and Junior Secondary School, citing the move as part of efforts to curb unnecessary expenses and refocus attention on learning outcomes.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, made this known in a memo addressed to parents, guardians, and school administrators across the state’s primary and secondary school system.
According to him, only pupils in Primary Six and Senior Secondary School (SS3) are henceforth authorised to hold graduation ceremonies in line with the national 6-3-3-4 education system.
“The Ministry is working towards a more functional education system. Ceremonies and parties for kindergarten, nursery and JSS3 students are hereby abolished,” Prof. Ikegwuoha stated.
He explained that the directive is part of a new policy aimed at “reducing the financial burden on parents and safeguarding the academic stability and future of children.”
The policy, which took effect immediately from August 15, 2025, also restricts schools from the yearly change of textbooks — a practice the commissioner said has become exploitative. Rather, approved textbooks must be used for a minimum of four years to allow siblings to reuse books and minimise costs.
“Proprietors are warned to adopt the approved list of textbooks and use them for at least four years,” the commissioner said. “Frequent changes of books impose unnecessary strain on families and destabilise the learning process.”
Prof. Ikegwuoha further stressed that compliance monitoring teams will be deployed to ensure that both private and public schools adhere strictly to the new directives, warning that erring schools would face sanctions.
The announcement has sparked widespread commendation on social media, with many residents praising the government for what they described as a “bold move” to curb what they say has become an exploitative culture among some school owners.
