Ebonyi Bans Nursery, Primary School Graduation, Introduces Skills Certificate Policy
The Ebonyi State Government has announced a ban on graduation ceremonies for pre-nursery, nursery, and primary school pupils as part of sweeping reforms aimed at repositioning the state’s education sector.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Dr. Donatus Ilang, and made available to journalists in Abakaliki on Thursday.
According to the statement, only students who have completed junior secondary school (JSS3) and senior secondary school (SS3) will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies, while pupils at the nursery and primary levels are to proceed to their next classes without elaborate send-off events.
“Graduation ceremonies are exclusively reserved for pupils and students who have successfully completed basic education (JSS3) and Senior Secondary (SS3). In view of the above, pre-basic (kindergarten/nursery) and Primary 6 are banned from holding graduation ceremonies forthwith,” the statement read.
Dr. Ilang explained that the policy is part of the state government’s broader educational reform strategy designed to raise standards and eliminate distractions in the system.
He also stressed that schools are henceforth prohibited from compelling pupils to attend extra lessons outside official school hours, noting that such practices burden parents unnecessarily.
He added that schools must adopt only government-approved textbooks to ensure uniformity and quality of instruction across the state.
In place of the banned ceremonies, the commissioner disclosed that the government is introducing a Skills Acquisition Certificate Policy to equip learners with practical vocational training. This, he said, will complement academic learning and prepare students for self-reliance in line with the state’s developmental agenda.
The move has sparked mixed reactions among parents and teachers. While some praised the government for curbing what they described as “wasteful spending” on elaborate graduation events for under-aged pupils, others expressed concerns about the abrupt enforcement of the policy.
Education analysts have, however, welcomed the introduction of the skills acquisition programme, describing it as a forward-thinking initiative that could bridge the gap between schooling and employability if properly implemented.
With this reform, Ebonyi joins a growing list of Nigerian states reassessing the relevance of certain school traditions while seeking to prioritize functional education and skills development.
