The Imo State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for kindergarten, nursery, and Junior Secondary School, JSS3 students.
It has also prohibited schools from changing textbooks on an annual basis.
The directive was contained in a memo dated August 15, 2025, signed by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, and addressed to parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
Under the policy, graduation ceremonies will now only be permitted for pupils completing Primary 6 and students finishing Senior Secondary School 3, SSS3, in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system.
The government further directed that textbooks must have a minimum four-year lifespan to allow reuse by siblings and ease the financial burden on parents. Schools were also warned against deviating from the approved list of textbooks.
Ikegwuoha explained that the measures were designed to curb exploitative practices in schools, promote uniformity in teaching, and ensure that attention remains on students’ academic achievements.
The policy takes immediate effect.
