Abia Govt Bans Nursery, Lower Primary Graduation Ceremonies; Restricts School Transfers in SS2

The Abia State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery and lower primary classes in a bid to ease financial pressure on parents.

This was made known during a press briefing following the State Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia and presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said that graduation ceremonies will henceforth be limited to Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) across both public and private schools.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, described the elaborate ceremonies for nursery and lower classes as unnecessary, citing the financial burden they impose on parents.

The government also separated textbooks and workbooks to encourage reuse by younger siblings, thereby reducing recurring costs for families.

It also directed schools to ensure that parents collect their children’s First School Leaving Certificates. Ubochi noted that many of these certificates are often left unclaimed. To address this, the state has capped the fee for obtaining a Primary 6 certificate at ₦2,000.

The state also announced that basic education certificates will now be mandatory for students registering for WAEC, NECO, or JAMB exams. Furthermore, no student will be allowed to proceed to SS3 without passing a newly introduced state-organised promotion exam at the end of SS2.

To tighten educational integrity and reduce exam malpractice, the government has also banned the transfer of students between schools at the SS2–SS3 level. All public and private schools in the state are now required to participate in the mandatory promotion exams.

“These measures are designed to reduce financial pressure on parents, promote accountability, and ensure integrity in the education system,” Ubochi said.