Ebonyi govt sustains ban on primary, secondary schools’ graduation ceremonies

Abakaliki: The  Ebonyi state government has Issued an order prohibiting both public, private primary and secondary schools in the State from organising or conducting any form of graduation, valedictory or related ceremony in the state without official authorisation.

The government in a statement, warned any school that violates the latest directive will face the wrath of the law.

Government noted that despite the repeated directives to that effect by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, some principals and head teachers of both public and private schools had continued to organise graduation, valedictory and end of session ceremonies.

In order to ensure strict compliance to the latest directive, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Donatus Ilang, has constituted an investigative panel to identify schools that have flouted the directive whereby appropriate sanctions would be imposed.

He assured that any offending institution would not be spared, including the prosecution of those responsible where necessary, withdrawal of the school’s operational approvals in accordance with the law.

The Ministry has also invited relevant security agencies, directed to support in the enforcement of the directive.

Meanwhile Parents and guardians have equally been advised to report any principal or head teacher who may or had collected money for the unauthorised graduation, valedictory or related ceremonies and had refused to refund the payments to report same promptly to the ministry for immediate action.

The government however, urged all school proprietors, principals, head teachers, parents and other stakeholders to comply fully with the directive in the interest of order, accountability and effective regulation of the education sector.