Abia bans graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary pupils

..Also ends compulsory operation of textbooks, workbooks

By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA — The Abia State Government has banned graduation ceremonies for nursery and superior schoolhouse pupils, arsenic good arsenic secondary schoolhouse students who are not successful exit classes, successful some nationalist and backstage schools.

The authorities besides announced the abolition of compulsory operation of textbooks and workbooks by publishers, a signifier that prevents parents from reusing textbooks for younger children.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed the decisions portion briefing journalists connected the result of this week’s State Executive Council gathering presided implicit by Governor Alex Otti. He explained that the measures were introduced to curb what helium described arsenic “exploitation of parents” by schoolhouse proprietors.

“Going forward, graduation ceremonies successful our schools volition lone beryllium constricted to Primary Six pupils and SS3 students,” Kanu said, adding that stakeholders successful the acquisition sector, including WAEC, NECO, NUT, ANCOPS, ETA, publishers and others, had already agreed connected the policy.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the determination to abstracted textbooks from workbooks would further trim the fiscal load connected parents. “The workbook volition beryllium utilized for assignments by a fixed child, portion the textbook remains reusable by younger siblings,” helium explained.

On recently recruited teachers, Ubochi disclosed that the authorities had concluded a two-week intensive grooming to equip them with 21st-century teaching skills. He added that last postings would beryllium released this week, with incentives provided for those deployed to hard-to-reach areas.

The authorities authorities besides cautioned schools against charging excessive fees for certificates. According to Ubochi, postulation of Primary Six and basal acquisition certificates should not transcend ₦2,000, portion secondary schoolhouse certificates should not outgo much than ₦4,000.

Also contiguous astatine the briefing were the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya, and the Governor’s Special Adviser connected Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.

The station Abia bans graduation ceremonies for nursery, superior pupils appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.