To ease the financial burden on parents and guardians, the Osun State government has announced an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery and kindergarten pupils across both public and private schools in the state.
It also directed that textbooks must be used for a period of three years to allow siblings to benefit from them consecutively, while the practice of inserting workbooks inside textbooks should stop with immediate effect.
TheHintsNews reports that the Imo State government had in August given a similar director to schools in the state, before Edo and Ekiti states followed suit.
However, the State Ministry of Education in a circular dated September 19, 2025 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, M. A. K. Jimoh said the directive was necessitated by concerns over the financial strain on parents and the loss of instructional time caused by such elaborate events.
The new policy specified that graduation ceremonies and parties would now be restricted to Primary 6 pupils completing their primary education and Senior Secondary School 3 students finishing their secondary education.
It added that the policy was designed to ensure that schools, parents, guardians, and stakeholders focus on academic achievements at the conclusion of formal primary and secondary education cycles.
The government warned that schools found violating these directives would face disciplinary action, which may include fines or the suspension of their registration.
It stated: “It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Education that the practice of organising elaborate graduation ceremonies for Nursery and Kindergarten pupils has become increasingly common.”
“The celebrations, while intended to mark educational milestones, have increasingly commercialised early childhood education and placed unnecessary burdens on families.
“In view of the above, the Ministry of Education hereby bans all graduation ceremonies for Nursery and Kindergarten pupils, effective immediately.
“Proprietors are now mandated to adhere strictly to an approved list of textbooks. The textbooks must be used for a period of three years to allow siblings to benefit from them consecutively, while the practice of inserting workbooks inside textbooks should stop with immediate effect.
“To promote stability and consistency in education, proprietors of faith-based and private schools are required to adhere to the approved list of textbooks.
“We count on your full cooperation to uphold the integrity and purpose of education. “