Osun bans nursery graduation ceremonies in public and private schools, citing cost burden on parents and loss of learning time

The directive was contained in a circular dated Friday, September 19, 2025, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, M. A. K. Jimoh.

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According to the circular, the elaborate ceremonies have become “increasingly commercialised,” causing unnecessary financial strain on parents and diverting focus from the core of early childhood education.

Henceforth, graduation parties will only be permitted for pupils completing Primary 6 and students finishing Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3).

“In view of the above, the Ministry of Education hereby bans all graduation ceremonies for Nursery and Kindergarten pupils, effective immediately,” the statement read.

Beyond the graduation policy, the state also introduced a new textbook usage guideline. All schools, including faith-based institutions, must strictly adhere to an approved list of textbooks.

Each approved title must be used for at least three consecutive years, ensuring siblings benefit and discouraging the insertion of workbooks into textbooks.

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The ministry warned that schools failing to comply with the directive risk sanctions, which could include fines or suspension of registration.