Ondo State Bans Graduation Ceremonies for Nursery and JSS3 Students, Moves to Ease Parents’ Financial Burden
Stor: written by Zara August 28,2025
The Ondo State Government has announced a ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery pupils and Junior Secondary School (JSS3) students, describing the practice as unnecessary and exploitative.
According to the directive, graduation ceremonies in schools across the state will now be restricted to pupils completing Primary Six and Senior Secondary School (SS3)—the officially recognised exit points in Nigeria’s education system.
The decision, disclosed in Akure on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Education, follows reports that some private schools compel parents to spend heavily on elaborate ceremonies, customised uniforms, and souvenirs for children who are yet to reach official graduation levels.
The Commissioner, Ajibefun, emphasised that the policy aims to reduce financial pressure on households, noting that parents should not be forced to buy new textbooks every session, especially when siblings can reuse instructional materials.
The announcement comes weeks after Edo, Imo, and Benue States also abolished graduation ceremonies for nursery and basic school pupils, as well as the use of customised books in schools.
Ajibefun further revealed that the state is working on the digitisation of schools, with advanced plans to migrate students in public primary and secondary schools onto a digital learning platform. The initiative, he said, would improve access to quality education, ensure uniformity in teaching, and promote accountability across schools in Ondo State.
The Commissioner also warned private school proprietors against lowering academic standards, stressing that any institution failing to meet government’s minimum educational requirements risks being shut down.
