The Kogi State Government has placed an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies in basic and secondary schools across the state.

The decision was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday in Lokoja, the state capital.

Jones declared: “The practice of incessant graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and secondary schools is hereby prohibited in the state with immediate effect.”

According to him, such ceremonies have become “economically unaffordable, putting undue pressure on parents, and attracting social ills associated with such celebrations.” He explained that the ban is designed to ease financial stress on families while encouraging more meaningful ways of recognizing students’ academic progress.

The commissioner also unveiled a new policy requiring parents to provide separate notebooks for their children’s classwork and assignments, instead of using textbooks as workbooks—a practice he noted was especially common in private schools.

“The use of textbooks as workbooks, especially in private schools, must stop, and parents must provide separate notebooks for their children,” he said.

Jones further outlined other measures aimed at improving education standards in the state. “We’ll introduce new celebration modalities to encourage competition and commitment to studies. No more social ills or undue pressure! We’ll also ensure students progress through required classes without jumping grades. Private school owners should note that writing mock exams is now a prerequisite for West African Examination Council registration.”

The commissioner stressed that the policies take immediate effect, reaffirming the commitment of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration to enforce the Kogi State Education Law of 2020.

He called on school proprietors, parents, and other stakeholders to fully cooperate with the ministry in ensuring smooth implementation.