Parents in Ondo State will no longer have to bear the weight of expensive graduation parties for nursery and Junior Secondary School (JSS3) pupils. The state government has announced a ban on the practice, saying such ceremonies add no real value to education but instead deepen the financial pressure on households.
The decision, made public on Wednesday in Akure by the State Commissioner for Education, Ajibefun, also stops schools from compelling parents to buy brand-new textbooks every academic year. According to him, siblings should be able to use the same instructional materials for a reasonable period to reduce unnecessary expenses.
He stressed that graduation ceremonies should only be reserved for pupils finishing Primary Six and Senior Secondary School (SS3), which remain the officially recognised exit points in the state’s education system.
The move follows similar actions recently taken by Edo, Imo, and Benue states, which outlawed graduation parties in early classes and discouraged the use of customised textbooks.
Ajibefun explained that the decision came after reports showed how some private schools had turned end-of-term ceremonies into profit-making ventures. Parents were allegedly forced to spend huge sums on uniforms, souvenirs, and elaborate events for their children.
Beyond cutting costs, the state government is also working to modernise learning. Plans are underway to move public primary and secondary schools onto a digital platform designed by the Ministry of Education. The Commissioner said this shift will expand access to quality education, create uniform standards across schools, and promote accountability in the sector.
He further warned school owners not to compromise academic standards, cautioning that any institution that fails to meet the government’s minimum requirements risks closure.
For many parents already weighed down by the rising cost of living, the new policy is expected to bring relief and redirect attention back to the true purpose of schooling — learning.