BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/FAVOUR PERCY-IDUBOR
The recent ban on graduation ceremonies in nursery and primary schools by the Edo State Government has sparked mixed reactions, igniting debates among parents, teachers and stakeholders in the education sector. While some applaud the move as a step toward reducing unnecessary financial burdens on families and promoting the reuse of textbooks, others see it as an attempt to strip young pupils of memorable milestones. Already, states like Ondo, Imo and Benue have followed suit, and conversations are mounting over whether Delta State should adopt a similar policy.
An anonymous respondent who spoke to our correspondent in Edo State on the issue opined that failure of the Government, its lip service or rather shamefaced commitment to education has had a reciprocal impact in the proliferation of private schools across Nigeria.
‘’Proliferation of private schools is beside the point. The decay in the administration of educational institutions, whether private or public, especially the failure of set institutions to develop a regulatory framework and standardised measures for monitoring excesses and evaluating compliance, are partly reasons for decadence and infusion of subterfuge practices into schools, which hitherto had been ignored, but gradually has grown into a gigantic horror.
The ecstatic reaction and public acceptance of the announcement show too well how parents have been “suffering and smiling”. Having to cope with extravagant billings for graduation parties, prom parties and having to buy the same books year in year out for their wards, even when they have done so for the previous year.
Recently, the Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Education, placed a ban on graduation ceremonies by nursery and primary school pupils in the state, and also introduced the reuse of textbooks policy, which allows younger siblings to use textbooks used by the elder ones.
As expected, however, varying reactions from stakeholders have trailed the announcement. While their views may differ, a generality of parents agree on the excessive financial pressure and unhealthy competition associated with these events (that is, graduation and prom parties), with some criticising them as inappropriate and materialistic distractions from the educational priorities of children.
While some parents embrace the tradition as a fun celebration, others believe it promotes shallow values, anxiety, and inappropriate behaviour, advocating for more focus on a child’s character and future readiness.
In a query into factors that necessitated the new policy, the Director General of the Edo State Directorate of Education Quality and Accessibility, Dr Amen Ogbemudia, reveals: “During the end of last academic session, we saw the kind of graduation ceremonies carried out by schools, especially private schools, and we were not pleased. When things begin to go out of hand, or the wrong way, selling morality for immorality, it becomes something of concern for stakeholders”.
“Apart from that, parents also cried out because of the financial burden placed on them by these schools. Some up to the tune of N200,000 for pupils in KG3. That complaint by parents got to the Governor and the Commissioner for Education. The governor, being a listening Governor, who is passionate about the welfare of the citizens, felt this wasn’t right. The focus should be on academics, not on panties. Education is not about party; it is about learning outcomes. It is about training, about skills.
‘’So, turning schools into clubhouses, where immoral outfits are worn, is uncalled for. That’s what informed the decision, and also to focus on the next academic session. To help parents save money is also what informed the introduction of the textbook reuse policy. Textbooks are now transferable from older students to younger ones. This is largely for the welfare of parents. I have received several messages from parents and churches, appreciating the decision taken by the Governor. That’s the impact. Because every policy of the government should be geared towards the welfare of the people. And that is exactly what the governor and the Commissioner have done.”
Furthermore, she asserted the readiness of the government to enforce the policy, “to ensure that the welfare of the citizens is looked after. We intend to ensure compliance by sending our field workers to monitor the system. Without an iota of doubt, it is not difficult to get them to comply. Before the next graduation ceremonies, which are in June/July, we will have put modalities in place to ensure strict compliance. Any school that fails to comply will face the wrath of the government. We also intend to sensitise parents to cry out when they are forced to make payments for graduation ceremonies.”
However, she said, the policy on textbooks is taking effect from September when children resume for a new academic session. ‘’Immediately, we will deploy our staff to private schools to ensure compliance. The Chief Inspectors of Education will also be on the ground to give them the list of books. We are going to ensure that both private and public schools use the same books. Because they do the same exams at the end of the day. You cannot be teaching the American curriculum and be writing Nigerian exams. The good thing about this thing is that the proactive commissioner for education, Paddy Iyamu, has already arranged for a stakeholders meeting for policy implementation. This is to ensure that what the government wants to achieve, nobody thwarts.
Grace Umeh, media practitioner and Features Editor in The Nigerian Observer, said, “For the first time in the political trajectories of Governor Hope Uzodimma as Governor of Imo State, I saw him do something that is both realistic and timely; this stoppage of the rot going on in the education sector. To therefore say I am impressed is just speaking tritely of the issue. We would not be wrong to say that a revolution in the education sector started in Imo State and is now being replicated by others.
“I join the rest of humanity who have lauded this initiative as credible and as accountable as any policy ought to be, and we also hail state governments who are trying, as would be seen even in Edo State, to replicate the policy.
“As a mother, I watched with consternation as private schools enforced sanctions on parents who refused to buy the same text books which the children had used before the last had used, insisting that each child should use a brand new textbook. I watched with chagrin as children did assignments on workbooks and committed such workbooks to the dustbin of history because no other child could use them.
‘’We kept paying for the same workbook over and over for the number of children we were able to muster. I watched as high levies were charged for graduation of infants from Daycare to Pre-nursery, from Nursery to Primary, etc, for babies who did not even know why they were being prepped with heavy academic gowns for. It was laughable! And we were paying!
“Thank God for this new policy, it will bring sanity into the education system and sanity into our family institutions too, help us save money for higher education. This should also simmer through the whole academic cadre, through the university. Sanity should be instilled in all. It shouldn’t be business as usual anymore”.
Another parent, Pastor Rhema Odeh, shares his excitement, “It’s a great relief for us parents to know that the financial implications of the many graduations of our children have been reduced to the barest minimum.
“For the State government to have reinstated the use of older textbooks for our younger children is another overwhelming relief, too. Though the private school my children attend has been cooperative in the aspect of textbooks, having the State government enact a law on it is everything. I pray for the state government of Edo State that they will be rewarded for this laudable policy in education.”
A school proprietor, Sunday Akenbor, differs in his view. He asserts, “For me as a school proprietor, the ban on graduation ceremonies for pupils in basic education is not going to be a good thing. Imagine a child going to school from KG1 to Primary Six, yet no graduation. It’s like just being in school and nothing to show for it. It doesn’t augur well with the school and parents as well. Even though some schools were misbehaving and charging parents heavily, it shouldn’t warrant a ban by the government. All they needed to do was to caution proprietors of the schools.
‘’Graduation ceremonies are usually the time when parents are happy seeing their children move to the next class. They celebrate it. They are happy. Saying they should wipe off completely what used to give children joy and happiness is not the best. The government should look at these things and do a reversal. Only 20 per cent of parents are happy with this ban. Maybe, because of the financial implications. We have observed that it is parents themselves who want to celebrate their children. It gives them joy and a sense of belonging. But if the government says no, what can we do?
“In the area of books, yeah! It’s good. For me, as a proprietor of a school, if you use books, you can transfer them to your younger ones. But remember, we have textbooks and workbooks. Workbooks are not reusable. At this time, it is left for the older ones to ensure that their books are always in good shape for their younger ones to use. Sometimes, we even give room for students to buy books that are very important, that they can afford. Though some schools charge heavily, we don’t. So, I totally agree with government policy on book reuse”.
In Delta State, parents have called on the state government to emulate other states that have banned graduation parties for nursery and primary school pupils.
The parents, who spoke with The Pointer, expressed concern that the growing trend of organising elaborate graduation ceremonies has become financially burdensome for families, especially in the face of prevailing economic hardship.
A former Deputy National Chairman (Diaspora), Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, described the development as a welcome idea if adopted in Delta, noting that such ceremonies often involve expensive clothing, decorations, and entertainment, which place unnecessary pressure on parents and encourage unhealthy competition among children. He stressed that graduation ceremonies should be reserved for higher institutions, not nursery and primary schools.
In the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Hon. Joseph Onyinye, pointed out that parents, and not just schools, play a major role in fuelling the trend. According to him, many parents imitate practices from the Western world and pressure schools to organise flamboyant events so that their children are not left out. “Most times, they suggest heavy parties that put other parents under tension. Therefore, graduation parties should be banned across Delta schools,” he said.
Hon. Onyinye further urged schools to channel more efforts into academic improvement, extracurricular development, and moral training rather than encouraging lavish ceremonies that add little or no value to children’s education.
Some private school teachers, who spoke anonymously, also supported the call. One teacher highlighted the ban on the sale of unauthorised textbooks as a positive step, saying it provided financial relief for parents and promoted stability in learning. She noted that with approved textbooks, teachers can deliver lessons more effectively without constantly adapting to new materials, while parents benefit from being able to reuse books for multiple siblings.
On graduation parties, she maintained that while banning them would reduce social and financial pressure on parents, it also comes with the drawback of denying children the emotional and social benefits of celebrating milestones.
She explained that ceremonies, even modest ones, can boost children’s confidence and give them a sense of closure. Without low-cost alternatives such as in-class recognition, the ban could dampen pupils’ morale.
Another teacher expressed support for the ban on unapproved textbooks, stressing that it would help reduce the circulation of pirated books in schools. She added that only classes with recognised certification, such as Primary Six and Senior Secondary School, should be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies.
Speaking to The Pointer, a parent, media consultant and veteran journalist, Mr Charles Emeni, commended the development. According to him, ‘’The yearly change of textbooks in primary and secondary schools with impunity by school owners in Delta State amounts to trading with the education of our children, and it’s a level of exploitation of students/parents mentality that must be stopped without delay.
‘’That this is happening in our schools, private and public, while relevant stakeholders/authorities are nonchalant about it, is ridiculous in the 21st century.
‘’The Delta State Government should borrow a leaf from Imo and Edo States on this and act fast to stop this deliberate and senseless destruction of the future of our innocent children. It doesn’t need legislation to get this done, but an executive order’’.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have urged the Delta State Government to follow the example of neighbouring states that have already placed restrictions on children’s graduation parties. They argued that such a move would help reduce financial strain on households and promote modesty and academic focus in the school system.
