Benue Govt Bans Graduation Parties in Basic Schools

The Benue State Government has prohibited graduation ceremonies for pupils in kindergarten, nursery, and primary schools.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Tuesday, the acting Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs. Helen Nambativ, said schools that disregard the directive risk sanctions, including temporary closure.

She explained that the new policy, which takes immediate effect, aims to ease the financial pressure on parents while ensuring the education system at the foundational level remains focused on academic development. A task force will also be set up to ensure compliance.

According to a memo issued on August 21, the government also scrapped the use of customised, non-transferable school materials and directed schools to revert to the traditional practice of passing down textbooks and exercise books. In addition, compulsory after-school lessons are now banned unless parents specifically request them.

Nambativ, who doubles as the ministry’s permanent secretary, stressed that any school failing to comply in the 2025/2026 academic session may lose approval to operate.

While some stakeholders welcomed the move, others expressed concerns about the timing. A school proprietor in Makurdi, who requested anonymity, argued that the government should have engaged with stakeholders before implementation, noting that many schools had already purchased the now-banned books. He suggested a one-year grace period.

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However, some parents applauded the decision. Mr. James Bemgba said it would relieve parents from the pressure of paying unnecessary fees for graduation ceremonies, sometimes for children as young as three, and from buying extra materials.

(NAN)