The Imo State Government has banned graduation parties for nursery, kindergarten, and Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) students, citing concerns over the financial burden these celebrations place on parents.
The directive, issued in a memo dated August 15, 2025, and signed by Commissioner for Education Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, stated that only pupils completing Primary 6 and students graduating from Senior Secondary School (SSS 3) are now permitted to hold graduation ceremonies, in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
Prof. Ikegwuoha emphasized that the decision was made after evaluating the extravagant nature of such events at lower school levels, which often strain families financially.
He highlighted that graduation should mark academic milestones rather than fuel unnecessary financial competition.
“This policy aims to reduce needless expenses and ensure the focus remains on meaningful academic achievements at the end of primary and secondary cycles”, he explained.
In addition to the graduation party ban, the government has outlawed the annual change of textbooks by schools.
Schools must now retain approved textbooks for at least four years before any replacements are considered, a move designed to ease financial pressure on parents by allowing siblings to reuse books.
Prof. Ikegwuoha warned school proprietors, including faith-based and private institutions, to strictly adhere to the policy, noting that frequent textbook changes disrupt teaching consistency and burden families.
The new regulations, which take immediate effect across all public and private schools in the state, will be monitored closely by education officials.
Violators risk facing sanctions. Prof. Ikegwuoha assured parents that these measures are part of the government’s commitment to building a sustainable, affordable, and quality-driven education system that prioritizes learning outcomes while alleviating financial stress for families.