(Chukwuma Soludo. Photo by Punch News)
The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board has reiterated its directive banning public primary and junior secondary schools in the state from organising graduation ceremonies, Christmas parties and collecting graduation levies.
In a circular dated July 10, 2026, and signed by the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Dr Justina Anyadiegwu, the board said the directive was in line with the Anambra State Government’s existing policy prohibiting such activities in basic education schools.
The circular, addressed to Officers-in-Charge of Local Government Education Areas and Education Secretaries across the state’s 21 local government areas, stated that no primary or junior secondary school should organise or permit any graduation ceremony, graduation levy, Christmas party, or any related activity inconsistent with the government’s directive.
It directed all school heads to ensure strict compliance with the policy, while LGEA officials and Education Secretaries were tasked with disseminating the reminder to schools within their jurisdictions and monitoring compliance.
The board warned that any violation of the directive would attract appropriate administrative sanctions and urged all stakeholders in the basic education sector to comply fully with the policy.
The renewed directive comes amid growing concerns among parents over rising school levies and elaborate graduation ceremonies organised for pupils in non-terminal classes.
It would be recalled that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in October 2025, banned graduation ceremonies and Christmas parties in schools across the state as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians.
The governor said the policy was designed to make education more affordable and equitable for families while discouraging unnecessary expenses associated with school activities.
Expressing concern over what he described as avoidable financial pressure on parents, Soludo had also directed schools to discontinue the use of textbooks designed for pupils to write in, addressing owners and administrators of government, private and mission schools in the state on the need to ensure that poorer families are not made to spend excessively simply because their children are in school.
He explained that the measure was meant to end the practice of forcing parents to buy new textbooks annually, noting that once a child completes a class, the textbooks should be passed on to younger siblings.