Benue Stops Graduation Parties In Nursery And Primary Schools

The Benue State Government has announced a ban on graduation parties for kindergarten, nursery, and primary schools.

The new directive was made public through a memo issued on August 21 and reinforced on Tuesday by the acting Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Helen Nambativ, in Makurdi.

The government said the decision was taken to ease the financial pressure on parents and redirect focus to academic development. Authorities noted that many schools had turned the practice into an expensive ritual, compelling parents to fund events for children as young as three years old.

The ban takes effect immediately, and schools that ignore it risk sanctions, including possible closure. Nambativ explained that the Ministry of Education is putting enforcement mechanisms in place, including the formation of a special task force. She also warned that schools that fail to comply in the 2025/2026 academic session may lose their operating rights.

The memo further outlined other reforms, including the abolition of customised exercise books that prevent reuse by other pupils. Schools have been ordered to return to the traditional practice of passing down textbooks and exercise books to younger students. Compulsory after-school lessons without parental consent have also been scrapped.

Reactions have been mixed. Some school proprietors in Makurdi argued that the timing of the policy was poor since many schools had already invested in the now-prohibited materials. They suggested the government should have given a one-year grace period to allow schools to adjust.

On the other hand, some parents welcomed the decision. They said the move would relieve them of unnecessary costs and help end exploitative practices in the basic education system.

With the directive now in force, all eyes are on the enforcement process as schools prepare for the next academic session under the new rules.