By Funmi Ojo
The Osun State Ministry of Education has announced a ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery and kindergarten pupils across public and private schools in the state.
The directive, contained in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Murtala Jimoh, takes immediate effect.
According to the Ministry, the growing trend of elaborate graduation parties for early learners has raised concerns about excessive financial pressure on parents, loss of instructional time, and the increasing commercialization of early childhood education.
Henceforth, graduation ceremonies will only be allowed for Primary 6 pupils and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) students, marking the conclusion of basic and secondary education cycles.
The statement emphasized that the policy is aimed at prioritizing academic achievements, easing the burden on families, and restoring focus to the core purpose of education.
On textbook usage, the Ministry directed proprietors of both faith-based and private schools to strictly adhere to the state’s approved textbook list, stressing that each set of approved textbooks is to be used for a minimum of three years, enabling students to reuse books across siblings.
“Furthermore, the use of workbooks embedded in textbooks has been outlawed to ensure durability beyond a single academic session.”
The Ministry warned that monitoring teams will conduct spot checks in schools, adding that violators risk fines or suspension of registration.
