The Edo State Government has announced sweeping reforms in the education sector aimed at enhancing quality learning and stability across schools in the state, beginning from the 2025/2026 academic session.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, who disclosed this in Benin City, said that the measures are in line with the SHINE agenda of the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration.
Among the new directives, parents will no longer be required to purchase fresh sets of textbooks yearly as the government has approved a textbook reuse policy.
In this arrangement, approved textbooks may be used by younger siblings for at least four years before they are reviewed by the Ministry of Education.
The government also issued a new directive on school ceremonies, restricting graduation parties to only pupils completing Basic Education at Junior Secondary School Three and those completing Senior Secondary School Three.
Such ceremonies, according to the Commissioner, must be modest, while elaborate prom parties are banned.
Pupils in nursery, kindergarten and primary schools, including Primary Six, will no longer be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies or parties.
In addition, all JSS 3 students will henceforth undergo compulsory entrepreneurship training before they graduate.
The Ministry stated that beginning from the 2025/2026 session, every JSS 3 graduate will be issued, not just the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), but also a Skills Acquisition Certificate in a chosen trade subject.
Dr. Iyamu noted that the new policy is designed to raise a generation of students who are not only academically sound, but also equipped with practical skills to thrive in today’s competitive world.
He stressed that the reforms reaffirm the government’s determination to entrench discipline, quality, and innovation in the state’s education system.
