Abia Bans Graduation Ceremonies in Nursery & Pry Schools
The Abia State Government has stopped graduation parties for nursery, primary, and non-exit secondary classes. Textbooks can now be reused, as workbooks will stand alone, easing parents’ costs. Schools are also warned against high certificate fees.
The Abia State Government has announced a sweeping ban on graduation events for nursery pupils, primary pupils not in Primary Six, and secondary students who are not in SS3. Both public and private schools fall under this rule. The decision, officials say, is to stop unnecessary spending and reduce what many parents have long described as exploitation.
Why the Ban on Graduation Ceremonies
At the latest State Executive Council meeting, led by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, explained that only pupils finishing Primary Six and students in SS3 will now hold graduation ceremonies. He stressed that the government took the decision after wide talks with stakeholders, including WAEC, NECO, NUT, ANCOPS, ETA, publishers, and other education players.
For parents, this may feel like a relief. What once looked like an endless cycle of costumes, rehearsals, and fees, will now be trimmed to only those at real exit points.
New Rules on Textbooks and Workbooks
Another major change concerns textbooks. The compulsory pairing of textbooks with workbooks has been scrapped. Before now, publishers sold both together, leaving parents unable to pass textbooks down to younger children.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, clarified that from now on, textbooks and workbooks will be sold separately. Textbooks can be reused, while workbooks will serve as each child’s personal assignment book. A small shift perhaps, but one that could save families plenty of money.
Teachers, Training, and Deployment
Ubochi also revealed that newly recruited teachers had just completed two weeks of intensive training. The focus was on modern classroom practices, to better prepare them for today’s demands. Their final postings will be made public within days. To encourage fairness, incentives are being planned for teachers heading to hard-to-reach areas.
Fees for Certificates
On another note, the government has moved to stop schools from charging excessive sums for certificates. Ubochi pointed out that Primary Six and basic education certificates should not cost more than ₦2,000. For secondary school certificates, the ceiling is set at ₦4,000. Schools have been cautioned not to cross this line.
Other Voices at the Briefing
The announcement was made in the company of the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya, and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma. Together, they underlined that the reforms are about fairness, not punishment.
For parents weary of constant levies and ceremonies, these new measures may feel like fresh air. For schools, it sets clear rules, drawing a line between tradition and excess.
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