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By Emmanuel Kanayo (PlainTruth)
A directive banning end-of-session parties in Rivers State has been largely ignored, as many private primary and secondary schools went ahead to stage elaborate ceremonies, shifting the financial burden to parents and guardians.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, had announced the ban, citing the need to ease economic pressure on families amid rising costs of living.
However, findings across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Ọgba/ Egbema/ Ndomi and other parts of the state show that several schools defied the order. The events featured rented halls, graduation gowns, souvenirs, and paid performances, with parents billed between ₦20,000 and ₦100,000 depending on the school.
Some parents who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were given little notice and no option to opt out.
“The ban came too late and there were no consequences,” said one parent. “We had no choice but to pay or our children would be excluded.”
Education stakeholders described the situation as evidence of weak policy enforcement in the state’s education sector. They noted that the absence of sanctions encourages schools to disregard government directives.
The development has raised questions about regulatory oversight and the ministry’s capacity to ensure compliance across both public and private schools.
As of press time, the Ministry of Education had not announced any disciplinary actions against schools that violated the order.
