The Edo State Government has outlawed extravagant nursery and primary school graduation parties, insisting that focus must shift from flamboyance to functional education.
Unveiling a raft of reforms set to commence in the 2025/2026 academic session, the Ministry of Education announced that pupils in pre-basic classes and primary six will no longer be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies. Only students completing junior secondary three (JSS3) and senior secondary three (SS3) will be permitted modest send-offs. Prom-style parties, the government stressed, are completely banned.
Beyond the clampdown on parties, the State has also introduced a Mandatory Entrepreneurship Skills Certificate for all JSS3 graduates. Alongside the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), students must now acquire certification in a trade subject before advancing.
In another cost-cutting measure, Edo has enforced a Textbook Reuse Policy, directing that approved books remain valid for at least four years, allowing younger siblings to use those previously purchased.
Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, said the policies were aimed at curbing waste, standardising learning, and equipping students with both academic and practical skills.
With the new rules, Edo is setting the tone for what it describes as a shift from showmanship to scholarship in Nigeria’s education system.
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