The Benue State Government has placed an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies for pupils in kindergarten, nursery and primary schools across the state.
The Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs. Helen Nambativ, disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). She warned that any school that violates the directive risks sanctions, including temporary closure.
According to Nambativ, the measure is part of a new education policy aimed at restoring discipline, reducing unnecessary financial burdens on parents, and re-focusing schools on academic excellence rather than social events.
She stressed that beginning from the 2025/2026 academic session, schools that flout the directive could lose their operating licences. A task force, she added, would be constituted to monitor compliance.
NAN recalls that a memo issued by the ministry on August 21 had already communicated the government’s decision. The document also abolished the unpopular use of customised education materials that prevent reuse by subsequent learners, directed schools to revert to the traditional practice of passing down books, and prohibited compulsory extended lessons without parental consent.
The policy, the memo explained, is designed to ease financial pressure on parents and channel resources into meaningful learning outcomes.
