The Ogun State government has confirmed that both public and private schools are strictly forbidden from collecting fees for graduation events or end-of-year celebrations. Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, issued this reminder during a meeting with the Grand Union of Private Schools Association in Abeokuta.
Arigbabu noted that the administration acted following numerous grievances from parents regarding high costs forced upon them by various institutions. He emphasized that the government will not tolerate practices that create financial strain on families under the guise of school ceremonies. Addressing requests from school owners regarding the removal of student photos from Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) documents, the Commissioner clarified that photos and QR codes are vital for preventing fraud and verifying certificate authenticity.
Furthermore, Arigbabu encouraged private school proprietors to prioritize campus safety by hiring adequate security staff. He also highlighted that the ministry is preparing to include private schools in the Ogun Learning Enhancement and Academic Resource Network (OgunLEARN) platform to ensure consistent digital instructional content across the state. GUPSA President Ustadh Ajibola praised the state’s ongoing efforts to improve the educational landscape.
