Imo State Government Bans Nursery And JSS 3 Graduation Parties

The Imo State government has imposed a prohibition on schools holding graduation celebrations for nursery and Junior Secondary School students.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, announced this in a memorandum sent to parents, guardians, and education sector stakeholders over the weekend.

The memo, dated August 15th, 2025, also instructed school proprietors to cease the annual replacement of textbooks, enabling siblings to reuse them, as the constant purchase of new books places a financial burden on parents and guardians.

The Commissioner stated that this new policy takes effect immediately.

He explained that the measure aims to foster a more streamlined and effective education system in Imo State, designed to benefit students, parents, and the broader community.

The memo reads:

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Imo State is committed to providing quality and functional education to all students in the state. To achieve this goal, the Ministry has established guidelines for “Graduation Ceremonies” and textbook usage in public and private primary and secondary schools.

Graduation ceremonies: in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system in Nigeria, graduation ceremonies and parties are only permitted for: (1) Primary 6 graduating pupils (2) senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 students.

Henceforth, graduation ceremonies and parties for Kindergarten, Nursery and junior secondary school 3 students are hereby abolished.

This policy aims to ensure that students, parents, guardians and stakeholders, and schools focus on the academic achievements of students at the end of their primary and secondary education cycles”, the Commissioner said.

In the same memorandum, the Commissioner directed schools to stop introducing new textbooks annually, noting that this practice prevents siblings from reusing books. He added that textbooks should now be used for a period of four years.

The Commissioner stated, “to promote stability and consistency in education, proprietors of faith-based, and private schools are required to adhere to the approved lists of textbooks.

“These textbooks are designed to be used for a period of four years, allowing children (pupils and students) to use the textbooks of their siblings for four consecutive years.

Proprietors are warned to desist from frequent change of textbooks every academic year, as this practice can be financially burdening for parents and undermine the quality of education. By adopting the approved textbooks and allowing them to be used for the specific period, schools can promote a more efficient and effective learning environment” he said.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli