The Imo State Government has placed an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies for kindergarten, nursery, and Junior Secondary School (JSS3) pupils.
The govt said the move was aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and prioritising academic development.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, disclosed this in a memo addressed to parents, guardians, and education stakeholders across the state.
He said the directive also bars schools from the yearly change of textbooks, describing the practice as exploitative and destabilising for families.
Schools are now required to adopt government-approved textbooks for at least four years to allow for reuse by siblings.
The memo, dated August 15, 2025, and referenced MOEPS/COMMR/2025/VOL.1/155, stressed that only Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School students are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system.
“Ceremonies and parties for kindergarten, nursery and JSS3 students are hereby abolished,” Ikegwuoha stated.
He added that the ministry would strictly monitor compliance and sanction defaulting schools, including private and faith-based institutions.
The initiative has since sparked reactions on social media, with many residents of Imo State applauding the policy as a relief from what they described as exploitative practices by school proprietors.