Imo State Government Bans Nursery and JSS3 Graduation Ceremonies, Restricts Annual Textbook Changes
Story Written By Okafor Joseph August 18,2025
The directive, issued in a memo dated August 15, 2025, by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, was addressed to parents, guardians, and stakeholders in the education sector.
According to the policy, graduation ceremonies will now only be allowed for pupils completing Primary 6 and students finishing Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3), in accordance with the 6-3-3-4 national education system.
The government also banned schools from changing textbooks annually. Instead, textbooks are now required to have a minimum four-year lifespan to enable reuse by siblings and reduce the financial strain on parents. Schools were further warned to adhere strictly to the approved list of textbooks.
Prof. Ikegwuoha explained that the new measures aim to eliminate exploitative practices in schools, promote uniformity in learning, and ensure that focus remains on students’ academic progress rather than ceremonies.
The policy takes effect immediately.
