By Jude Atupulazi
In a landmark decision, the Government of Imo State has abolished the abuse of graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state, as well as approved the use of same textbooks for four straight years so that pupils and students can use the textbooks of their siblings. This is welcome news that I urge other states to emulate.
In case some people don’t know, the Imo State Government has just put an end to the growing phenomenon of graduation ceremonies in many private, religious and public schools which are being abused just for money making purposes.
Today, at the end of every academic session, graduation ceremonies by schools fill the air. From kindergarten to the senior classes, it is graduation all the way, even if those involved have no idea of what graduation means. Pupils and students now are made to attend graduation ceremonies from one class to the other.
But what rankles is that the school managements are just doing it for making money. On those days, many guests are expected to come and donate money, while families pay for everything associated with such graduations – from custumes to be worn by the pupils and students to gowns.
Pupils and students are showered money by parents and friends of parents, thus introducing them to the allure of money. While they dance or recite poems or read news or addresses, they have money stuck on their foreheads or just thrown at them. I once attended one such event in Nnewi, where after seeing how money was thrown at the pupils and students, I expressed my displeasure by telling the management of the school that it was wrong. To lead by example, I refused to join in the splashing of the cash.
As if this is not enough, state governments and private schools these days have textbooks designed in such a way that they could only be used in one academic year, such that even if one repeats a class, they will have to buy new textbooks; not to talk about siblings hoping to use textbooks used by their elder siblings.
In our days, textbooks were the same for long periods such that siblings did not have to buy a single textbook outside as they used same books bought for others when they moved up in classes.
I remember how at the beginning of each new academic session after the long vacation, relatives and friends would be looking in to see if they could be lent textbooks for their children or wards. Because textbooks were to be left for others, parents would supervise their kids to ensure those books were well handled. This saved parents, relatives and friends money as they sold them sometimes at reduced prices.
Today, however, what we see is a wicked, deliberate attempt to make money at the expense of parents. Some textbooks are made in such a way that students and pupils write inside them, thus eliminating the opportunity of them being used later by others.
This is a way schools ensure that parents return to pay for new textbooks each new academic session. Families which are large usually suffer the most as they will have to buy textbooks for every one of their children despite the prevailing hardship. One can safely say that these days, quality and excellence have been sacrificed for profit.
This problem began with the emergence of private schools. These schools simply scattered the system and introduced many stuff that took the cost of education to the roof; yet, many of them do not employ experienced teachers and will rather go for unqualified ones that they will pay peanuts and save money.
They are just preying on the vanity of our people many of who only want their children in private schools to show class. Nevertheless, there are quality private schools but they are way too expensive.
Back to the topic, I will want the Anambra State Government to emulate the Imo State example by also banning all these meaningless graduation ceremonies, as well as ordering that textbooks are made so that families won’t have to keep buying new ones every session. People should not be exploited by greedy school managers. This has gone on enough and should be stopped.
