The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has implemented a policy abolishing graduation ceremonies for classes lower than Primary 6 and SS3 in the state.
Consequently, the practice of holding graduation ceremonies for kindergarten, nursery, and Junior Secondary School (JSS) pupils is now a thing of the past.
The government said it was part of its measures to ease financial pressures on parents in the state
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, sent a memo to stakeholders, asking for immediate implementation of the policy.
The memo, dated August 15, 2025, also instructed school owners to stop the frequent change of textbooks.
He said the practice was not pocket-friendly to families.
Ikegwuoha stated that the new measures were put in place to create a more focused and efficient education system that benefits all stakeholders.
Under the new policy, only Primary 6 pupils and Senior Secondary School students will be allowed to have formal graduation ceremonies.
The commissioner said schools could not change books for a minimum of four years. This, he said, would allow siblings to reuse the same books to reduce unnecessary financial burdens on parents.
Ikegwuoha said frequent changes of textbooks, done particularly by private and faith-based schools, undermined educational stability.
He noted that the new policy would promote a better learning environment.
The commissioner said the policy would be effectively monitored, and defaulters would be sanctioned.
