The Kogi State Government has banned graduation ceremonies in basic and secondary schools, citing financial burden on parents and the social vices associated with the practice.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, announced the decision on Wednesday during a meeting with stakeholders in Lokoja.
He said the ban, which takes immediate effect, also covers signing-out ceremonies in tertiary institutions within the state.
Jones explained that the government was concerned about the “incessant and costly” nature of graduation celebrations in nursery, primary, and secondary schools. “The practice has become economically unaffordable, putting undue pressure on parents, and attracts social ills associated with such celebrations,” he said.
The commissioner disclosed that new ways of celebration would be introduced to encourage academic competition and commitment to studies, while eliminating practices that promote social excesses.
The state also directed parents to provide separate notebooks for their children’s classwork and assignments, warning that textbooks should no longer be used as workbooks. Jones said this would make textbooks reusable for siblings and reduce costs for families.
Jones urged stakeholders to support the reforms, reiterating that they were aimed at improving educational standards and easing the financial strain on parents. He also appealed to private schools to moderate fees while delivering quality education.
Kogi govt bans graduation, signing-out ceremonies in schools
