Plateau reiterates ban on non-transferable textbooks, graduation ceremonies in schools

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By Golok Nanmwa

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Plateau State Government has reiterated its ban on the use of non-transferable textbooks as well as graduation ceremonies and the wearing of academic gowns in nursery, primary and secondary schools across the state.

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The directive, issued by the Ministry of Education, warned that any school found violating the policy would face sanctions, including immediate closure and withdrawal of its operating licence.

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According to a statement signed by the Director of Quality Assurance in the ministry, Mr. Sabastine John, on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, the policy is in line with resolutions reached during a stakeholders’ engagement on education held on August 28, 2025.

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The ministry said the resolutions were subsequently adopted by the Plateau State House of Assembly during plenary on September 2, 2025, and later assented to by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

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The statement said, “The use of non-transferable textbooks is banned in all public and private nursery, primary and secondary schools across Plateau State.

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“Graduation ceremonies and the wearing of academic gowns are also prohibited in nursery, primary and secondary schools, except during officially approved Speech and Prize-Giving Days.”

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The ministry said the measures were aimed at promoting affordability in education and reducing unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardians.

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It warned that schools that fail to comply with the directive risk immediate closure and withdrawal of their operating licences.

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To ensure full compliance, the ministry disclosed that monitoring teams had been deployed across the 17 local government areas of the state to enforce the directives.

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The government appealed to parents, school proprietors and administrators to support the policy by ensuring strict adherence to the regulations.

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The ministry maintained that the directives remain in force and urged all stakeholders in the education sector to cooperate with the government in safeguarding standards and making education more accessible and affordable for families across the state.

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