The Osun State Government has officially prohibited graduation ceremonies for nursery and kindergarten pupils across both public and private schools.

The decision was communicated in a circular dated September 19, 2025, from the Osun State Ministry of Education, signed by the Permanent Secretary, M. A. K. Jimoh.

According to the circular, the ministry took this step to address the growing financial pressure on parents and the loss of instructional time linked to such elaborate events. “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 statement read.

While the celebrations were meant to mark learning milestones, the government noted that they have now commercialised early childhood education and created unnecessary burdens for families.

Going forward, graduation events will only be allowed for Primary 6 pupils completing primary school and Senior Secondary School 3 students finishing their secondary education. “In view of the above, the Ministry of Education hereby bans all graduation ceremonies for Nursery and Kindergarten pupils, effective immediately,” the circular stated.

The ministry stressed that the move aims to redirect focus toward genuine academic achievements at the end of primary and secondary education.

In addition, the government released fresh guidelines on the use of textbooks in both public and private schools, including faith-based institutions. “Proprietors are now mandated to adhere strictly to an approved list of textbooks,” the circular declared.

It added that, “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.”

Schools that fail to comply with these directives risk facing sanctions such as fines or even suspension of their registration. “We count on your full cooperation to uphold the integrity and purpose of education,” Jimoh concluded.

Reports indicate that Osun is not the first state to take such measures. The move follows similar bans previously introduced by Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma, later adopted by other states including Ekiti