The Edo State Government has announced sweeping reforms in the education sector aimed at strengthening stability, consistency, and quality learning across all schools in the state.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, the new policies will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session and cover key areas such as textbook use, graduation ceremonies, and skills acquisition for junior secondary school students.

Textbook Reuse Policy
Parents will now save costs as younger siblings are permitted to reuse approved textbooks previously purchased by older siblings. All approved textbooks will remain in use for a minimum of four years before being reviewed by the Ministry.

Graduation Ceremony Guidelines
Lavish graduation parties have been scrapped for non-terminal classes. According to the new directive, graduation ceremonies are now strictly reserved for pupils who complete Basic Education (Primary 1–JSS 3) and Senior Secondary 3 (SSS 3). Even at these levels, only modest celebrations will be allowed. Prom parties are banned, while nursery, kindergarten, and Primary 6 pupils will no longer be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies.

Mandatory Entrepreneurship Skills for JSS 3 Students
To boost practical learning, all JSS 3 students will undergo compulsory entrepreneurship skills training before graduation. Starting from the new session, every JSS 3 graduate will receive two certificates — the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and a Skills Acquisition Certificate in their chosen trade subject.

The Ministry emphasized that these measures are designed to ensure Edo students are not only academically sound but also equipped with entrepreneurial competencies to thrive in today’s world.

This follows the lead provided by the Imo State government.