JUST IN: Ondo govt abolishes graduation parties in Nursery, JSS3 classes

August 27, 2025 by Tosin Tope, Akure

The Ondo state government has announced the abolition of graduation ceremonies in nursery schools and Junior Secondary School III (JSS3) across the state.

The Nation report that the ban, which affects both public and private schools, was part of new reforms introduced to reposition the state’s education sector under the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led administration. 

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed this on Wednesday after a stakeholders’ meeting with proprietors and owners of private schools from the 18 local government areas of the state.

Ajibefun explained that the move was a deliberate step to regulate and sanitize school operations.

“To reposition the education sector to its former enviable pedigree, the ministry has made some critical decisions to sanitize private school activities. Part of these decisions includes the prohibition of illegal and unregistered schools, the banning of graduation ceremonies for nursery and JSS3 classes, and the re-accreditation of all private schools for quality assurance,” he said.

The commissioner emphasized that private schools play a critical role in education but warned that things had deteriorated, requiring urgent reforms. 

He urged strict compliance with ministry directives on the use of recommended textbooks, adherence to the approved curriculum, observance of the official school calendar, and respect for public holidays.

He also announced a six-month grace period for unapproved schools to secure government approval, noting that conditions for registration would soon be reviewed to make the process easier.

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Ajibefun further cautioned against the use of unapproved or foreign curricula, underage admissions, excursions without clearance, and compulsory extra lessons. 

He frowned at exploitative practices such as compelling parents to buy new textbooks every year, stressing that siblings should be allowed to reuse books for a reasonable period.

He revealed that the ministry was working on digitising the education system, with plans to migrate all primary and secondary school students in the state to a digital learning platform.

Ajibefun warned that schools unable to meet the “irreducible minimum” standards set by the government should “find another business.”