Government bans graduation ceremonies in schools

The Ebonyi State Government has announced a ban on graduation ceremonies for pupils in pre-nursery, nursery, and primary schools. The directive, issued in Abakaliki by the Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Donatus Ilang, stated that such ceremonies would now be reserved exclusively for students completing Junior Secondary School (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School (SS3).

Ilang explained that the measure is part of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s educational reforms designed to raise standards across the state.

He said all schools, both public and private, must adopt government-approved textbooks, while unapproved or unqualified faith-based and private schools would be closed immediately. Parents were also directed to transfer their children to accredited institutions.

The commissioner stressed that the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) has become a compulsory requirement for admission into secondary schools, while students seeking transfers must provide a valid transfer certificate from their previous school.

He added that grading will no longer be based on class positions; only first, second and third places will be recognised. Other students will be graded pass or fail, and those who fail promotion examinations will be required to repeat the class.

The state government also banned compulsory after-school lessons and introduced Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition as a new subject across schools. Ilang noted that the subject is now mandatory in both basic and senior secondary schools, and graduating students will be awarded certificates in the discipline alongside their academic qualifications.