Imo Govt Bans Nursery, JSS3 Graduation Parties, Ends Yearly Change of Textbooks

The Imo State Government has introduced major reforms in the education sector, banning graduation ceremonies for nursery and Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) pupils while also stopping the yearly change of textbooks.

The directive was contained in a memo dated August 15, 2025, signed by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, with reference number MOEPS/COMMR/2025/VOL. 1/155, and addressed to parents, guardians, and stakeholders under the title “Policy on Education for Public and Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Imo State.”

According to the policy, only pupils completing Primary 6 and students completing Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies, in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system. Professor Ikegwuoha explained that the measure was designed to refocus attention on academic milestones at the end of primary and secondary cycles, rather than encouraging what he described as unnecessary celebrations.

The memo also tackled the issue of schools changing textbooks every academic year. The Commissioner directed that textbooks must now have a minimum lifespan of four years to ease financial pressures on parents and allow siblings to reuse learning materials. He cautioned private and faith-based school proprietors against deviating from the approved list of textbooks, stressing that consistency in teaching resources was critical for better learning outcomes.

“Proprietors are warned to desist from frequent change of textbooks every academic year, as this practice can be financially burdening for parents and undermine the quality of education,” the memo read.

The Commissioner further stated that adopting textbooks for the stipulated duration would not only reduce costs for families but also foster uniformity and stability in the education system.

The new policy takes immediate effect across all public and private schools in Imo State.