The Ondo State Government has banned schools from promoting pupils from Primary 4 directly to secondary school, warning institutions against violating the national 6-3-3-4 education structure.

The government also announced plans to clamp down on examination “miracle centres” and close unregistered private schools operating across the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with education stakeholders in Akure ahead of the resumption of schools next week.

Ajibefun said the practice of moving pupils to secondary school before completing the six years of primary education was undermining the quality of learning and leaving some students without the foundation required to cope with secondary education.

He explained that the national education structure requires pupils to spend six years in primary school, followed by three years each in junior and senior secondary school.

According to him, the premature promotion of pupils had also contributed to the registration of inadequately prepared students for state and national examinations, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The commissioner said pupils would henceforth be required to complete Primary Six before entering secondary school, except in cases where academically outstanding pupils qualify for double promotion.

He warned that schools would no longer be allowed to promote entire classes prematurely, stressing that such practices had contributed to declining educational standards.

Ajibefun also announced increased monitoring of examination centres, particularly facilities identified as “miracle centres” where examination malpractice is allegedly facilitated.

He said the government would take action against any centre found to be involved in examination fraud.

The commissioner further disclosed plans to shut private schools operating without registration or adequate documentation.

He said the number of unregistered private schools in Ondo State was believed to be higher than registered ones, with some allegedly operating from single rooms and makeshift structures without government approval.

Ajibefun said the measures were part of new policies being introduced by the Ministry of Education to address identified challenges in the state’s education sector, with most of them taking effect from the new academic session.