The Ebonyi State Government has announced a comprehensive education reform aimed at improving teaching standards, school administration, and student outcomes across the state. The new policy, released on September 1, 2025, by the Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Dr. Donatus Chukwuma Ilang, is in line with Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.
According to the directives, both public and private schools—including faith-based institutions—are required to strictly comply with the reforms. The major highlights of the new policy include:
- Unified Textbooks: All schools, whether public or private, must adopt government-approved textbooks. These books will remain in circulation for four years before review, and students are prohibited from writing in them to allow reuse by siblings.
- Closure of Unapproved Schools: Any faith-based or private school operating without government approval will be shut down immediately. Parents are advised to transfer their children to approved schools.
- Admission Requirements: The First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) is now mandatory for admission into secondary schools. Transfer students must also present a valid transfer certificate from their previous school.
- Promotion Policy: The government has abolished the use of class positions for grading. Only the top three students will be ranked, while others will be graded pass or fail. Students who fail promotion exams must repeat the class.
- Graduation Ceremonies: Graduation parties are now restricted to students completing Junior Secondary School (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School (SS3). Nursery/Kindergarten and Primary 6 pupils are no longer permitted to hold graduation ceremonies.
- Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition: A compulsory subject on entrepreneurship and skills acquisition has been introduced. Students completing JSS3 and SS3 will now graduate with certificates in these fields.
- Ban on Compulsory Lessons: The government has prohibited mandatory extra lessons across schools unless there is a formal agreement between parents, teachers, or school managers.
The Commissioner emphasized that these reforms are designed to standardize learning, reduce financial burdens on parents, and equip students with practical skills to meet future challenges.
“All principals and school administrators are directed to comply strictly with these policies with immediate effect,” Dr. Ilang stated.
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