Follow Us on Google
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has doubled down on its regulatory stance, issuing a stringent directive to private school operators aimed at curbing what it described as exploitative practices burdening parents across the state.
In a statement from the office of the State Commissioner of Education, Professor B. T. O. Ikegwuoha, the ministry reaffirmed its ban on graduation ceremonies for Kindergarten, Nursery, and Junior Secondary School 3 pupils.
According to the directive, only Primary Six and Senior Secondary School 3 students are authorised to hold graduation events. The ministry stated the move is intended to eliminate “ceremonial activities that add no substantive educational value” while reducing financial pressure on families. Ikegwuoha further clarified that pupils in Primary 1–5, JSS 1–3, and SSS 1–2 cannot be compelled to contribute money for graduation or send-off activities. The ministry labeled such collections “exploitative and inconsistent with acceptable educational standards.”
“While families of graduating students may organise private events, schools are barred from participating in, coordinating, or monetising them”, he warned.
On the constant changing of textbooks, Ikegwuoha said “Schools must retain approved textbooks for a minimum of four years. A new list of approved textbooks will be released in August 2026, valid until August 2030, to ensure “stability and predictability” for parents.
The ministry warned that defaulting schools face “severe sanctions, including immediate withdrawal of operational licences, removal from the official register of approved schools, and outright classification as illegal institutions.”
To enforce compliance, a public reporting mechanism, the commissioner said, has been activated, urging citizens to submit verifiable details of violations including the school’s name, location, and nature of the breach via designated WhatsApp channels. The ministry emphasised that documentation, not verbal complaints, will be required.
Analysts say the directive signals a shift from “tolerance to enforcement” in a sector facing criticism over commercialisation. For many parents grappling with economic pressures, the ban on frequent textbook changes and unauthorised levies is being viewed as a timely intervention.
Professor Ikegwuoha stressed that “ignorance of these directives will not be accepted as an excuse,” urging all administrators to align fully with the policies. “Compliance is not optional but mandatory,” the commissioner stated.
The ministry maintains the reforms are designed to restore discipline, standardisation, and academic focus, ensuring that “profit does not override educational purpose” in Imo schools.
