The permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Mary Otozi, on behalf of the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Donatus Ilang, expressed concern over the continued violation of the government’s directive by school administrators.
This is even as the Ebonyi State government has inaugurated an investigative panel to identify and sanction schools that violate its ban on graduation and valedictory ceremonies without official approval.
The government said the action became necessary following reports that some public and private schools continued to organise end-of-session ceremonies despite repeated directives prohibiting the practice.
The government observed that some principals and head teachers of both public and private schools had continued to organise graduation, valedictory and other end-of-session ceremonies despite several warnings.
The ministry restated that no school is permitted to hold graduation ceremonies or similar events without prior approval from the state government.
It warned that any institution that violates the directive will face strict sanctions.
The Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Donatus Ilang, had directed that appropriate sanctions should be imposed on every offending institution. It added that those responsible could face prosecution.
The government also warned that the operational licence of any school found guilty of violating the directive could be withdrawn.
To strengthen enforcement, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it had constituted an investigative panel to monitor compliance across the state.
The ministry also said that relevant security agencies had been informed to support the directive’s enforcement.
The ministry urged parents and guardians to report any principal or head teacher who demands payment for unauthorised graduation ceremonies or other end-of-session events. It also asked parents to report schools that refuse to refund money already collected for such activities.
The Ebonyi State Government called on school proprietors, principals, head teachers, parents, and other education stakeholders to fully comply with the directive. It said strict compliance would promote order, accountability and effective regulation in the education sector.
DrumAfricanews reports that government first announced the ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery and primary schools in September 2025.
The earlier directive, issued by Dr Donatus Ilang, also prohibited compulsory extra lessons and the practice of writing notes or assignments directly inside textbooks. The government warned at the time that schools violating the policy would face appropriate sanctions.
