The Ogun State Government has announced a ban on lavish graduation parties in schools across the state, limiting such celebrations strictly to pupils completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School Three (SS3).
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the measure was introduced to check the rising trend of extravagant social events in schools, which often exert unnecessary financial pressure on parents.
“Graduation ceremonies should be modest and reflect genuine academic milestones rather than turn into flamboyant social occasions,” Prof. Arigbabu stated while addressing preparations for the 2024/2025 academic session.
He expressed concern that elaborate parties, particularly for nursery and kindergarten pupils, had derailed the core essence of education, adding that the new policy was designed to restore moderation and reduce parental burden.
In a related directive, the government also ordered schools to maintain a minimum six-year cycle before changing textbooks. Prof. Arigbabu emphasized that constant book changes not only drained parents financially but also offered little improvement in learning outcomes.
“Quality education depends on effective teaching and proper use of resources, not on frequent textbook replacements,” he said, warning that schools violating the policy would face sanctions.
The commissioner assured that the Ministry would enforce strict monitoring to ensure compliance, noting that the reforms were part of the state government’s broader efforts to make education affordable, impactful, and sustainable.
He urged school owners, teachers, and parents to embrace the policy, describing it as being in the best interest of learners and families.
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