Ogun State Bans Graduation Parties for Kindergarten, Nursery Pupils

The Ogun State Government has officially banned graduation ceremonies for pupils in kindergarten and nursery schools.

This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, during a media briefing on the state’s preparations for the 2024/2025 academic session.

According to Prof. Arigbabu, graduation events will now only be allowed for pupils completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3). He noted that the move is intended to curb unnecessary spending and reduce the financial burden on parents.

The commissioner criticized the trend of extravagant celebrations for early childhood classes, stating that such events often overshadow the true purpose of education and promote a culture of excess. He emphasized that only significant academic transitions should be marked with graduation ceremonies.

Ogun joins other states—such as Imo, Edo, Ebonyi, and Benue—that have implemented similar measures to regulate school events and protect parents from exploitative practices by some private school proprietors.

In addition, Prof. Arigbabu issued a directive to all schools regarding textbook usage. He stated that schools must maintain the same set of textbooks for at least six academic years before making any changes. This, he explained, is to prevent frequent and unnecessary textbook replacements that impose financial stress on families.

“Quality education is not achieved through constant textbook changes but through effective teaching and proper use of existing materials,” the commissioner said.

He warned that schools failing to comply with this policy would face sanctions and assured the public that the ministry will closely monitor implementation.

Prof. Arigbabu called on parents, educators, and school owners to support the new policies, stressing that they are designed to prioritize the well-being and academic progress of pupils.