By STEPHEN ADELEYE

The Kogi government has banned incessant graduation ceremonies in basic and secondary schools across the state as part of reforms in the education sector.

The decision was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja on Wednesday.

The government also banned “students’ signing-out” ceremonies in tertiary institutions within and outside the state.

Jones said incessant graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and secondary schools are prohibited in Kogi with immediate effect.

He noted that the practice has become unaffordable, exerting financial pressure on parents and encouraging social ills linked with such celebrations.

The commissioner said the ban is intended to reduce parents’ financial burden and encourage more meaningful ways of celebrating pupils’ and students’ achievements.

He further announced a new policy requiring parents to provide separate notebooks for classwork and assignments, instead of using textbooks as workbooks.

Jones explained that the policy aims to make textbooks reusable by siblings from the same family.

“The use of textbooks as workbooks, especially in private schools, must stop. Parents must provide separate notebooks for their children,” Jones said.

He added that new celebration modalities would be introduced to encourage competition and commitment to studies, without social ills or undue pressure on families.

Jones stressed that pupils must progress through required classes without skipping grades.

He also announced that writing mock examinations would now be mandatory before registration for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The commissioner said the new policies take immediate effect across the state.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s administration to enforcing the Kogi education law, introduced in 2020.

Jones urged stakeholders to support the Ministry in ensuring full implementation of the policies and education law.

He also emphasised the need for private schools to comply with regulations and provide quality education services.

“We will work together to develop education, reduce out-of-school children, and ensure compliance with laws,” he stated.

Jones called on private schools to charge moderate fees while providing quality services to transform education in the state.

Stakeholders at the meeting commended the Ministry’s efforts and pledged continuous support for the government’s education initiatives.

They, however, urged the government to recruit more teachers in public schools and establish a committee to regulate textbooks in line with state standards.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants included Local Government Education Secretaries, NAPPS, ANCOPPS, SUBEB, and NAPTAN representatives, among others. (NAN)