Schools are strictly banned from forcing parents to buy textbooks exclusively through school channels or preferred vendors at marked-up prices
โIn a bid to throw a financial lifeline to struggling families, the Ekiti State Government has rolled out sweeping reforms across its public secondary schools. The Ministry of Education has taken a direct swipe at rising schooling costs by officially approving the reuse of textbooks among siblings and putting an immediate stop to expensive graduation parties.
โThe directives are a practical response to the current economic squeeze, aimed squarely at cutting down the hidden costs of keeping a child in school.
โBreaking the Textbook Monopoly
โFor years, parents have faced a frustrating cycle: buying a brand-new set of identical textbooks for every single child, year after year. Subtle, often unnecessary updates by publishers meant a perfectly good book used by an older sibling would suddenly be declared obsolete by the next term.
โThe stateโs new guidelines put an end to this forced spending:
โThe Sibling Pipeline: Students are now fully permitted to use hand-me-down books from older siblings, so long as the core curriculum covers the same ground.
โCurriculum Stability: The government is locking in the state curriculum for a fixed period, preventing schools and publishers from tweaking editions just to drive new sales.
โNo More Forced Buying: Schools are strictly banned from forcing parents to buy textbooks exclusively through school channels or preferred vendors at marked-up prices.
โClamping Down on Graduation Costs
โWhat used to be a simple milestone has morphed into a major financial headache. Between high-priced venue rentals, mandatory graduation gowns, yearbooks, and end-of-year dinner levies, finishing school has become a luxury some families simply cannot afford, often alienating students from less privileged backgrounds.
โThe New Rule: Public secondary schools are no longer allowed to host, organize, or demand cash contributions for graduation parties. Any school administrator caught collecting unauthorized “send-off” or end-of-term levies will face immediate disciplinary action.
โSchools can still hand out certificates and hold quiet, dignified valedictory assemblies, but these must happen during normal school hours and cannot cost parents a dime.
