Ondo Govt Bans Graduation Ceremonies for Nursery, JSS Students

The Ondo State Government has announced a ban on elaborate graduation ceremonies for nursery pupils and Junior Secondary School (JSS) students as part of efforts to reform and sanitise the education sector.

The decision was disclosed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, during a stakeholders’ meeting with private school owners across the state’s 18 local government areas.

According to him, the ban became necessary to discourage wasteful spending and redirect focus towards academic excellence. “Ondo State has to step in to ban elaborate graduation ceremonies, especially for nursery and JSS classes,”Ajibefun said.

Beyond the ban, the state government also introduced a series of other reforms, including re-accreditation of all private schools, prohibition of unregistered institutions, enforcement of approved curricula, and strict adherence to the official school calendar and public holidays.

The Commissioner further warned against underage admissions, unauthorised excursions, and the use of unapproved or foreign curricula. He stressed that, going forward, all school trips would require clearance from the Ministry due to security concerns.

To ensure compliance, Ajibefun announced that illegal schools would be given a six-month grace period to secure approval, adding that the state government is reviewing registration conditions to make the process easier for school proprietors.

On the issue of textbooks, he directed schools to stop compelling parents to buy new books every academic session, insisting that siblings should be allowed to reuse textbooks. He also revealed that plans were underway to digitise both primary and secondary schools to enhance learning and streamline operations.

While private school owners commended the reforms, they appealed for more time to meet accreditation requirements and urged the government to cut down on bureaucratic hurdles.

Prof. Ajibefun, however, maintained that the state would not compromise on minimum standards. “Any school unable to meet basic requirements should find another business,” he warned.