Ondo Govt Bans Nursery, JSS 3 Graduation, Moves Against Illegal Schools

The Ondo State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery pupils and Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) students as part of new measures to regulate private schools in the state.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, announced the decision at a meeting with school proprietors across the 18 local government areas.

He said the government would re-accredit all private schools, give unapproved schools six months to regularize, and enforce strict compliance with approved curricula, textbooks, and the official school calendar.

Ajibefun warned against underage admissions, illegal transfers, and the use of foreign curricula without clearance. He also banned unapproved excursions, compulsory extra lessons, and exploitation of parents through yearly purchase of new textbooks, directing that books be reused by siblings where possible.

The commissioner stressed that schools unable to meet minimum standards should close down, adding that the government is digitizing the education system to bring all schools under a central platform.

School proprietors welcomed the reforms but appealed for more time to complete accreditation and urged government to reduce bureaucracy in the process.