Osun bans nursery, kindergarten graduations, introduces 3-year textbook policy

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery and kindergarten pupils in both public and private schools across the state, with immediate effect.

In a circular issued on Friday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Muritala Jimoh, the government noted that the practice had placed unnecessary financial pressure on parents, disrupted instructional time, and commercialized early childhood education.

According to the new policy, only pupils completing Primary 6 and students in Senior Secondary School Three (SSS3) are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies and parties.

Jimoh said, “This policy aims to ensure that students, parents, guardians, stakeholders, and schools focus on the academic achievements of students at the end of their primary and secondary education cycles. It also seeks to reduce significant financial expenditure, which places undue pressure on families.”

Similarly, proprietors of faith-based and private schools have been directed to adopt only the approved list of textbooks, which must be used for a minimum of three years to allow siblings to reuse them.

The ministry also outlawed the use of workbooks embedded in textbooks, stressing that books should last beyond a single academic session.

“All schools are expected to comply strictly with this directive. Monitoring teams will conduct random checks, and any school found violating this policy will face appropriate disciplinary measures, including fines or suspension of registration.

“We count on your full cooperation to uphold the integrity and purpose of education,” the circular added.