The Imo State government has officially banned schools from organizing graduation parties for Nursery and Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) students.
This directive was announced by the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, in a memo addressed to parents, guardians, and education stakeholders over the weekend.
Dated August 15, 2025, the memo also instructs school proprietors to halt the annual change of textbooks, a practice that has financially burdened parents and guardians by requiring new purchases each year. Instead, textbooks are now to be used for up to four years to allow siblings to share materials.
The Commissioner confirmed that the new policies take effect immediately.
According to Professor Ikegwuoha, these measures are designed to create a more focused and efficient education system in Imo State, benefiting students, parents, and the wider community.
The memo states:
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Imo State is committed to providing quality and functional education to all students. To this end, guidelines have been established regarding graduation ceremonies and textbook use in both public and private primary and secondary schools.
Graduation ceremonies and parties will henceforth only be permitted for Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School (SSS 3) graduating students, in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system in Nigeria.
Therefore, all graduation ceremonies and parties for Kindergarten, Nursery, and Junior Secondary School 3 students are abolished.
This policy aims to ensure that students, parents, guardians, and schools concentrate on academic accomplishments at the end of primary and secondary education cycles.”
On textbooks, the Commissioner emphasized the need for stability, stating that school proprietors must follow the approved textbook lists and avoid yearly changes. Textbooks should be used for four years, enabling siblings to reuse the same books, reducing financial strain on families.
He added:
“Frequent changes in textbooks each academic year place unnecessary financial pressure on parents and can negatively impact education quality. By adopting the approved textbooks and extending their use over four years, schools can foster a more effective and efficient learning environment.”
