More than 106 surveillance and security personnel have been deployed by the Ebonyi State Government to enforce its ban on unauthorised graduation, valedictory and prize-giving ceremonies in public and private schools across the state.
The deployment forms part of the government’s efforts to ensure full compliance with its education policy, which prohibits schools from organising graduation-related events without approval from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Donatus C. Ilang, announced the deployment during a briefing for members of the ministry’s surveillance team and security personnel. The officers have been assigned to monitor schools across Ebonyi State’s 13 local government areas.
Ilang directed the team to enforce the government’s policy without compromise and warned that any school found in violation of the directive would face sanctions.
He stated that the ministry would not tolerate any breach of the policy. He said schools that ignored the government’s directive should prepare to face the consequences of their actions.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry was investigating more than 158 schools reported for allegedly organising or planning graduation, valedictory and prize-giving ceremonies in violation of the directive.
He also revealed that principals, head teachers and proprietors who collected graduation levies from parents but failed to refund the money would soon face disciplinary action.
Dr Ilang urged the surveillance personnel to carry out their responsibilities with commitment and professionalism across all the local government areas. He assured them that the government would provide the necessary logistics to support the monitoring exercise.
He instructed members of the team to work together and make effective use of the ministry’s official hotlines whenever necessary during the operation.
The commissioner further warned that only officers officially appointed and briefed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, alongside authorised security personnel, were permitted to enforce the directive.
He also cautioned churches and owners of worship centres against allowing their facilities to be used for school graduation ceremonies that violate the government’s policy. He warned that anyone who disregarded the directive should be prepared to answer the ministry’s invitation.
Speaking at the briefing, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Chief Mrs Mary Otozi, advised public and private schools to comply fully with the government’s policy on graduation, valedictory and prize-giving ceremonies.
She appealed to school administrators to stop organising unauthorised events and urged parents to report any principal, head teacher or proprietor who refused to refund graduation levies already collected.
Mrs Otozi noted that Enugu State had adopted a similar policy, adding that the measure was aimed at protecting parents from unnecessary financial burdens and ensuring order within the education system.
Responding on behalf of the surveillance team, the team leader, whose identity was not disclosed, thanked the commissioner for the confidence reposed in the members.
