Kogi State Government has ordered schools across the state to stop holding frequent, elaborate graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary and secondary levels, and also restricted sign-out ceremonies in tertiary institutions. The directive is announced by the State Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, at a meeting with education stakeholders in Lokoja, and it takes immediate effect. The government says the practice has become financially burdensome for many parents and can expose students to negative social influences. It adds that only the Annual Speech and Prize-Giving Day will be allowed for basic and secondary schools, as part of a shift toward academic-focused recognition rather than expensive social events.
The government also introduces cost-reducing measures, including a ban on using textbooks as workbooks, directing that parents provide separate notebooks for classwork and assignments so textbooks can be reused by siblings. The commissioner says schools and private operators must comply with the Kogi State Education Law 2020, with enforcement including possible closure for violations, as reported by Punch.
