Supporters applaud step as great relief from rising school costs
School owners unhappy, question implementation
By Victor Akinkuolie,Irele,
Babatunde Ayedoju, Akure,
& Adeboye Ado, Ikare
The Ondo State Government’s ban on graduation and promotion ceremonies for pupils and students in non-terminal classes has continued to generate mixed reactions.
Investigations revealed that some parents and private school proprietors are backing the policy, while others oppose it, even as the government insists the directive is in the best interest of children and has come to stay.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, maintained that the decision was introduced to relieve parents of unnecessary financial burdens amid the prevailing economic challenges and curb the growing trend of schools organising elaborate graduation ceremonies for pupils who are not leaving their respective classes.
According to him, schools have turned such ceremonies into avenues for imposing excessive charges on parents.
“If a child is in Nursery Two or Primary Three, and is asked to pay huge amounts of money for a graduation ceremony, wear a graduation gown and participate in an event they do not even understand, it is not appropriate.
“That is why we placed the ban. When things become excessive, we have to stop them. Graduation ceremonies should only be for graduating classes such as Primary Six and SS3, and even then, the amount charged must be moderate,” he said.
Ajibefun disclosed that zonal education officers had been deployed across the 18 local government areas to monitor compliance, adding that the ministry had already intervened in some schools after parents reported the continued collection of prohibited fees.
“We intervened in some of those schools and those decisions were reversed. We will continue to monitor the situation,” he added.
While many stakeholders welcomed the directive, others questioned its implementation and overall impact.
A school proprietor, Mr. Emmanuel Foluso, said his school had fully complied with the government’s directive by restricting graduation ceremonies to Primary Six pupils proceeding to secondary school.
He explained that parents had accepted the policy because the government had not abolished graduation ceremonies entirely but had only limited them to terminal classes.
“It is okay by us because it does not affect us negatively. We are already complying and will continue to comply even without inspectors visiting the school,” he said.
Another private school proprietor, Mr. Solomon, also expressed support for the policy, revealing that his school cancelled its planned end-of-session ceremony after the directive was announced.
“We informed parents about the government’s decision. Although some were initially unhappy, they later understood because it is in everyone’s best interest,” he said, adding that the school remained committed to avoiding sanctions.
Several parents also endorsed the policy.
A parent, Mr. Odun Ofere described the government’s action as timely and commendable, saying it had brought financial relief to parents by discouraging unnecessary levies.
Similarly, Mr. Emmanuel Ezeigwe said the directive would reduce the financial pressure on families, although he alleged that some schools had introduced “end-of-year gifting” as an indirect means of collecting money from parents.
Mr. Peter Ajayi described the policy as long overdue, noting that it would curb materialism among pupils in addition to reducing avoidable expenses.
Mr. Adetoye Babajide also praised the government’s decision, saying it would discourage inappropriate behaviour sometimes associated with school celebrations while easing the financial burden on parents.
Mrs. Daudu Funmilola said schools should concentrate on academic excellence rather than organising elaborate ceremonies every session.
However, not all stakeholders share the government’s position.
The management of Premier College, Ode-Irele, said it had yet to receive any official communication from the Ministry of Education on the directive and would only comply after receiving formal notification.
“We have not received any notification from the government banning graduation ceremonies. We will definitely comply once we receive official communication. We don’t believe everything we see on social media,” the proprietor said.
The school disclosed that it had already concluded arrangements for its end-of-session ceremony, with graduation fees collected from parents since the beginning of the term, adding that no cancellation had been announced.
The proprietor also disagreed with the policy, saying members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) were yet to meet to deliberate on the government’s decision.
He further revealed that no official of the ministry had visited or contacted the school regarding compliance.
A parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also faulted the directive, although she acknowledged that it could reduce the financial burden on parents.
She said she initially believed the policy applied only to public schools and noted that parents had already paid graduation fees before the government’s announcement.
“I don’t support the government’s decision because graduation ceremonies provide schools with additional revenue and also offer an opportunity to celebrate pupils’ achievements,” she said.
She, however, admitted that the directive would reduce unnecessary levies on parents, but argued that a total ban was not the best approach.