The Federal Government has banned graduation ceremonies for pupils and students below Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) as part of new reforms aimed at easing financial pressure on parents.
The policy was announced on Friday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suiwaba Sai’d, alongside a broader framework to improve learning outcomes and promote sustainability in schools.
Under the new guidelines, only pupils completing Primary 6, JSS3 and SSS3 will be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies, a move the government said would curb unnecessary expenses placed on families.
The ministers also unveiled a new textbook policy that mandates the use of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years, while prohibiting the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks.
According to them, the initiative will allow learning materials to be reused across multiple academic sessions, enable siblings to share textbooks, reduce waste and significantly lower recurring education costs for parents.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning and school planning nationwide.
They explained that the policy strengthens the assessment, quality assurance and selection of textbooks, addressing long-standing concerns over frequent but cosmetic revisions that force parents to purchase new books annually.
A key provision of the framework is the introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles, with textbook updates required to reflect substantial improvements in content rather than minor layout changes.
The ministers added that limits have been placed on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with international best practices, while the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee the quality and approval of instructional materials.
They reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding educational standards, promoting equity and ensuring access to high-quality learning materials across the country.