By Francis Ezediuno

Copyright dailypost

Parents in Osun State have expressed mixed reactions to a newly introduced policy by the state government that bans nursery and kindergarten graduation ceremonies and enforces stricter rules on textbook usage in all public and private schools. DAILY POST had earlier reported that the Osun State Government, through the Ministry of Education, issued a circular on September 19, 2025, signed by Permanent Secretary M. A. K. Jimoh, which mandates that the ban takes immediate effect. According to the circular, the government cited concerns about the financial burden placed on parents and the instructional time lost to the preparations and execution of elaborate ceremonies. The policy limits graduation ceremonies to only Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School 3 students, thereby excluding nursery and kindergarten pupils from having such events. On the textbook front, proprietors of faith-based and private schools are now required to use textbooks strictly from an approved list. The new rule demands that the textbooks be retained for a three-year period to benefit siblings successively. Workbooks embedded within textbooks are also banned under the policy, which seeks to eliminate what the government regards as commercialisation in early childhood education by stopping practices that may drive up costs. Some parents have welcomed the decision, saying it could reduce financial pressure on families who previously felt obligated to purchase extra materials and host costly ceremonies. The Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, in Osun State, Moshood Fadare, while featuring as a guest on Frank Talk on Rave FM, Osogbo, on Monday morning, described the development by private schools in the state as exploitation. Fadare lamented the tradition of tasking parents to pay for end-of-the-year parties at all costs or risk forfeiting their report cards. He said, “I have obtained some reports from some parents complaining about owners of schools compelling parents to pay for end-of-the-year parties or forfeit their children’s report cards. “At times, some of these children, if you don’t pay for their end-of-the-year parties, they end up falling sick.” He added that the economic realities in the country and the state did not support such unreasonable demands on some parents. “We all know the economic realities in the state and the country nowadays and, to be fair to ourselves, we have to take responsibilities between ourselves. The business of education should not be left to government alone. “What we are saying is that in this situation the children of the poor people in our society will feel alienated. The essence of education is not for parents and their children to compete.” On her part, Oyinkansola Omigbodun, a school proprietress, who said the policy may be interpreted as a means of infringing on people’s rights to celebrate milestones, also added that coercion of parents to pay outrageous amounts for end-of-the-year parties is exploitative. Omigbodun also added that there was need for government and stakeholders in the education sector to come together and work out days that the policy would be applicable and not meet brick walls. A mother, Onigbnide Blessing, said, “If schools keep spending on parties, we spend too much. This change helps us. I had to do graduation parties for two of my children in one session and the cost was outrageous. I had to do it because the money was calculated into the school fees.” Others, however, are concerned about the emotional and developmental impact on young children who look forward to end-of-term milestones. A father of a kindergarten pupil, Godwin Adegboyega, said, “My daughter was excited about her graduation; telling her there will be none feels like taking something away.” Another parent, Adeleke Aiyegbaju, who expressed support for the policy, said it was a welcome development. He said, “It is welcomed. I was even asking myself when the state government will do so because I have been following the news and noted that many states in the country have been taking steps against the exploitation. “I call it exploitation because many parents have no choice but to comply. Some parents even go as far as borrowing just to meet up.” Precious Olugbenga, on her part, disclosed that from the onset she always quarreled with the proprietor of her children’s school because she stood her ground that she would not comply with such policy. “The proprietor of the school my children attend knows me. They always get ready for me every end of session because I don’t pay. “I don’t owe any school fees and I make sure my children don’t lack, but to coerce me into paying for a graduation party is a no-go area for me.” A principal of a private faith-based school in Osogbo, who preferred anonymity, expressed concerns that enforcing textbooks from an approved list may limit their ability to choose materials that best suit their teaching style. He said, “We want standards, but we also want flexibility.” Some parents have questioned how the enforcement will work in practice. They are asking whether inspections will be made, whether fines or suspensions will be applied, and how these measures will affect school registration status. The circular warned that schools found violating these directives would face disciplinary action, including fines or suspension of registration. Expressing concern, Olugbenga said, “We just hope this directive will not be political in nature. We hope it will not be a bandwagon policy that the state government wants to announce so as not to be left out.” Ogundeji Adeyemi, a parent who runs a small private kindergarten, said compliance might mean additional cost for schools, which could be passed on to the parents. “If the school has to ensure all textbooks are from the approved list for three years, some books may be more expensive; we might still feel the burden,” he hinted. Another parent, Florence Ogunmuyiwa, suggested that uniformity could yield long-term benefits. “If every school sticks to a list, maybe siblings can reuse books, and parents know what to expect each year,” she said.