Ondo bans school graduation ceremonies for nursery and JSS 3, citing financial burden on parents and pledges digital learning reforms

Ondo bans school graduation ceremonies for nursery and JSS 3 pupils, describing the practice as exploitative and an unnecessary financial strain on parents.

Also read: Children’s Parliament Katsina Demands Safer School Policy

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Education, during a meeting with private school proprietors in Akure.

The government stressed that only Primary Six and Senior Secondary School (SS 3) pupils are recognized exit classes eligible for graduation ceremonies.

According to the Commissioner, many schools had been compelling parents to spend heavily on elaborate celebrations, uniforms, and souvenirs, in addition to forcing them to buy new textbooks every academic session.

“Siblings should be able to use the same instructional materials for years, rather than placing needless pressure on households,” he said.

The decision follows similar steps taken by Edo, Imo, and Benue states in recent weeks, as governments move to curb exploitative practices in the education sector.

Beyond cutting costs, Ondo is also working on digitising its education system. Plans are underway to migrate pupils in public schools onto a central digital learning platform, which the Commissioner said will improve access, ensure accountability, and promote uniformity across schools.

He further cautioned private schools against lowering academic standards, warning that any institution failing to meet the government’s “irreducible minimum” requirements would face closure.

Also read: Education Experts Advice: Community Support Key for Schools

The move has been hailed as a bold step toward protecting parents from avoidable expenses while pushing the state’s education sector into a modern and accountable future.