Abia Govt Bans Illegal Graduation Fees, Warns Schools of Sanctions

• The Abia State Government has banned public and private schools from collecting graduation fees for non-terminal classes, warning that only Primary Six and SS3 graduations are recognised and that violators will face legal sanctions.

The Abia State Government has warned public and private schools against collecting graduation levies or organising paid graduation ceremonies for pupils and students in non-terminal classes, saying violators will face sanctions.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Duru Marvellous, on behalf of the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi.

According to the government, graduation ceremonies are officially recognised only for pupils in Primary Six and students in Senior Secondary School Three (SS3), being the final classes in the state’s basic and secondary education system.

The commissioner stressed that any graduation ceremony organised for non-terminal classes that requires compulsory payment is illegal and must stop immediately.

“The Abia State Government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, wishes to remind the general public that graduation ceremonies are recognised only for Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3), being the terminal classes in the Basic and Senior Secondary Education cycles.

“Accordingly, any graduation ceremony organised for non-terminal classes that attracts compulsory payment is not approved and must cease forthwith,” the statement read.

The government said it had received several reports indicating that some public and private schools across the state were still imposing unauthorised graduation fees on pupils and students in classes that are not recognised as terminal levels.

It described the practice as a violation of the state’s education policy and directed all schools to immediately discontinue the collection of such levies.

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has also been instructed to begin statewide monitoring and enforcement to ensure full compliance with the directive.

According to the statement, no public or private school is permitted to collect graduation fees or levies from pupils or students in any class other than Primary Six and SS3.

The government warned that any school found violating the directive would be sanctioned in line with existing laws and regulations.

It further reiterated that “any graduation for non-terminal classes that attracts compulsory payment is not approved by Government and must cease forthwith.”

The commissioner urged parents, guardians, school proprietors and other stakeholders to comply strictly with the directive, adding that members of the public should report any school flouting the policy to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for prompt investigation and appropriate action.

The state government said the measure is aimed at protecting parents from unnecessary financial burdens while ensuring that schools comply with approved educational standards and regulations.