The Ogun State Government has directed all public and private schools across the state to discontinue graduation ceremonies and end-of-session parties, citing concerns over alleged financial pressure on parents and guardians.
The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and signed by the Director of Education (Private Schools), A.A. Bisiriyu, according to Premium Times Nigeria.
The circular, dated June 17, and addressed to all administrators of public and private schools, ordered immediate compliance and warned that violators would face sanctions.
According to Premium Times Nigeria, on Thursday, the ministry said the decision followed reports that some school administrators were allegedly extorting parents under the guise of organising graduation and end-of-session celebrations.
“It has been brought to the notice of the Ministry that some administrators of both public and non-state (private) schools have started extorting parents/guardians under the disguise of organising graduation/end-of-session parties for learners,” the circular stated.
The government stressed that such practices were no longer acceptable in the education sector.
“Therefore, it is pertinent to state that, the State Government frowns at organising Graduation/End of Session Party ceremony in all classes in both Public and Non-State (Private) schools in the State. Hence, no school owner should organise such gatherings forthwith,” it added.
The ministry also directed school administrators to widely publicise the directive among parents and stakeholders to ensure full compliance.
Similarly, PUNCH reports on Tuesday that the Kogi State Government had also restated its ban on excessive graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools, warning that defaulting schools risk closure. The report added that the state also reaffirmed its prohibition of sign-out ceremonies by graduating undergraduates, with the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, stating that the policy was introduced to reduce financial pressure on parents.
Similar restrictions have also been enforced in states such as Benue, Ondo, Osun, and Imo, where governments have moved to curb or regulate graduation-related ceremonies in basic and secondary education.
The Ogun government maintained that any school found violating its directive would be sanctioned in accordance with applicable regulations.
