The Federal Government has banned graduation ceremonies for pupils and students below Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3), citing the need to reduce the financial burden on parents.

The policy was announced on Friday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suiwaba Sai’d, as part of a broader set of reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes and promoting sustainability in the education sector.

Under the new guidelines, only pupils completing Primary 6, JSS3 and SSS3 will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies. The government said the move would eliminate unnecessary and costly events often organised for lower classes.

The ministers also unveiled a revised textbook policy that mandates the use of standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. The policy prohibits the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks.

They explained that the new approach would allow textbooks to be reused across academic sessions, enable siblings to share learning materials, reduce waste and significantly cut recurring education expenses for families.

As part of the reforms, the Federal Government introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning and school planning nationwide.

The framework also strengthens textbook assessment and quality assurance processes, addressing concerns over frequent but superficial revisions that compel parents to buy new books annually.

According to the ministers, textbook updates will now be based on structured and meaningful revision cycles, while limits have been placed on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade, in line with international best practices. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee textbook quality and approval.

They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting educational standards, promoting equity and ensuring access to high-quality learning materials across the country.