The Benue State Government has announced an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies for pupils in kindergarten, nursery, and primary schools across the state.

The decision was made public on Tuesday in Makurdi by Mrs. Helen Nambativ, Acting Commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management. She warned that schools that fail to comply with the directive risk sanctions, including temporary closure or withdrawal of licenses.

According to Nambativ, the move is part of a new education policy aimed at restoring discipline in the basic education sector and reducing unnecessary financial pressure on parents.

“The directive is to reduce avoidable expenses and shift the focus of schools back to academic excellence rather than social events,” she said.

The ministry has also abolished the practice of forcing parents to purchase restricted or customised books, insisting schools must return to the traditional culture of passing textbooks and exercise books down to younger pupils. Similarly, compulsory after-school lessons have been scrapped, except where parents voluntarily opt in.

The new policy took effect immediately, and a task force will be set up to enforce compliance during the 2025/2026 academic session.

While some school proprietors have criticised the timing of the decision, saying they needed more time to adjust, many parents welcomed the policy.

Mr. James Bemgba, a parent in Makurdi, praised the government, saying:

“Most schools force parents to pay for the graduation of kids who are less than three years old and also make us buy books unnecessarily. This is a huge relief.”

With this development, Benue State is making a strong statement on prioritising education over expensive social events, ensuring that resources are better channelled into real learning.