Ebonyi State Bans Nursery And Primary School Graduations, Compulsory Lessons

The Ebonyi State Government has issued sweeping reforms in the education sector, banning graduation ceremonies for nursery and primary schools, compulsory lessons, and the practice of writing texts or assignments inside textbooks.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Donatus Ilang, announced the new directives in a memo addressed to principals and headteachers of public schools, proprietors of private and faith-based schools, as well as parents and guardians. He warned that defaulters would face sanctions.

According to the commissioner, graduation ceremonies are now strictly reserved for pupils completing Basic Education (JSS3) and students completing Senior Secondary (SS3). As such, kindergarten, nursery, and primary six pupils are barred from holding graduation events.

Other directives include:

• All schools, both public and private, must use only government-approved textbooks.
• Unqualified and unapproved private and faith-based schools are to be closed immediately, with parents instructed to transfer their wards to approved schools.
• The First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) is now mandatory for secondary school admission.
• Transfer certificates must be presented before a student can be admitted into another school.
• Schools are to stop grading pupils by overall position; only first, second, and third positions will be recognized, while others will be graded pass or fail. Students who fail promotion exams must repeat their class.
• Textbooks must remain in circulation for four years before review, hence writing inside them is prohibited to allow reuse by younger siblings.
• Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition has been introduced as a compulsory subject, with certificates to be awarded to Basic Education and SS3 students at graduation.
• Compulsory after-school lessons are banned unless a formal agreement is reached between parents, teachers, or school managers.

Dr. Ilang emphasized that the reforms are in line with Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda, aimed at improving the quality of education in Ebonyi State.