Like Edo, Imo, Ondo govt bans school graduation parties

THE Ondo state government has banned graduation parties for nursery and junior secondary school students, citing the financial burden such ceremonies place on parents and guardians.

Bisi Lawani, press officer at the state’s education ministry, issued a statement communicating the ban on Wednesday.

The PRO said Igbekele Ajibefun, the ministry’s commissioner, gave the directive during a stakeholder meeting with all proprietors and proprietresses in the state’s 18 LGAs.

Ajibefun explained that the policy aims to reduce unnecessary expenses for parents and redirect focus to academic achievement at the end of primary and secondary school cycles.

He said the state government has also prohibited illegal and unregistered schools and is set to re-accredit all private schools for quality assurance.

“It is obvious that things have gone bad in the education sector; there are urgent issues we need to address so that we can bring back the lost glory,” Ajibefun was quoted as saying.

The ban in Ondo state is coming after similar policy moves in Benue and Imo states.

On August 17, Imo’s commissioner for education Bernard Ikegwuoha addressed parents, guardians, and school proprietors in a memo dated August 15.

He said only primary 6 and senior secondary school students are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.

On August 21, Helen Nambativ, permanent secretary at Benue’s education ministry, also announced a ban on graduation parties usually organised by kindergarten, nursery and basic schools in the state.