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Edo Issues New Guideline On Education, Says Siblings’ Textbooks Transferable, Bans Graduation For KGs, Others, [A MUST READ]

Edo State Government has issued new guidelines on education for both basic and secondary schools in the state.
The educational guidelines were contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu.
Below is the full statement:
POLICY ON EDUCATION FOR BASIC AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EDO STATE
The Edo State Ministry of Education is committed to providing clear policy direction on all educational matters while ensuring quality, standards, and inclusiveness across the State’s education system.
2. In line with the National and State Policies on Education, the Edo State Education Law and other relevant statutory frameworks, the Ministry hereby issues the following policy guidelines, which all schools (public, private, and faith-based) in Edo State are required to strictly comply with:
(1) APPROVED TEXTBOOKS: Only textbooks recommended and approved by the Ministry are permitted in all schools across the State.
2) USAGE OF APPROVED TEXTBOOKS: To promote stability and consistency in learning, schools must henceforth allow younger siblings to use
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approved textbooks previously purchased by their older siblings. Approved textbooks are designed to remain in use for a minimum of four (4) years before any review by the Ministry.
3) TEXTBOOKS AND WORKBOOKS DESIGN:
a) Authors and publishers are hereby reminded that no textbook should contain workspaces within its content.
b) Henceforth, any textbook that includes workspaces will be derecognized by the Ministry.
c) Workbooks shall henceforth be produced and used separately from textbooks.
4) GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN SCHOOLS: In line with the provisions of the National and Edo State Policies on Education, henceforth, only students who have completed the Basic 1-9 and Senior Secondary 3 are permitted to hold modest graduation celebrations. However, promenade (prom) ceremonies are highly discouraged as it encourages indecency amongst the students. For the avoidance of doubt, all Pre-Basic pupils are not allowed to embark on graduation ceremonies and parties across the State. This policy is aimed at ensuring that pupils, students, parents, guardians, stakeholders, and school managers remain focused on achieving quality learning outcomes at the conclusion of each educational level.
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5) BINDING
EDUCATIONAL STATUTORY DOCUMENTS: School administrators are once again advised to acquaint themselves with the statutory documents that govern and regulate the standard operations of schools in the State. These include the Education Law, the National and Edo State Policies on Education, Ministry of Education circulars, and other regulatory instruments. Compliance with these documents is mandatory. In particular, the National and Edo State Policies on Education, which equally uphold the following principles:
a) All basic classes are compulsory, including Basic 6 (Primary 6).
b) Skipping of classes is strictly prohibited at all levels of education.
c) Moving pupils / students from lower class to certificate class unduly simply to write Middle Basic Assessment (MBA) or Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is highly prohibited;
d) Use of the National Curriculum is compulsory; additional curricula are optional and cannot replace the national standard.
e) Only qualified teachers are to be engaged for classroom instruction and academic activities in all schools.
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f) Teachers and school leaders in all schools are expected to model discipline, professionalism, and commitment to duty at all times.
g) The Middle Basic Assessment (MBA) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are mandatory for all basic schools in the State.
h) The minimum age of a pupil to write MBA (primary 6) remains 10 yrs.
i) On social safeguards in all Schools, no food is allowed as gift to learners without the approval of parents.
J) Attending seminars during school hours in public schools without Ministry’s approval is prohibited.
k) Students on field trips are to be lodged with their chaperones on same-gender basis only.
(6) HARMONISED SCHOOL CALENDAR: All schools in the State are to strictly adhere to the harmonised school calendar issued by the Ministry for the 2025/2026 academic session. Any parallel calendar is prohibited. Violations will attract appropriate sanctions.
7) SALE OF BOOKS: All public school heads must provide the approved list of books and learning materials for students. The sale of books by school staff is strictly prohibited. No parent shall be coerced to purchase books from a specific vendor.
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8) ADMISSION INTO JSS1 CLASS: Admission into JSS1 shall be strictly based on successful completion of primary education and evidence to have completed Primary Six and written the Middle Basic Assessment (MBA). Admission is FREE in all public schools and must be properly documented.
(9) ADMISSION INTO SS1 AND TECH 1 CLASSES: Admission into SS1 and Tech 1 classes shall be strictly based on successful completion of basic education, that is, with evidence to have completed and written Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Admission is FREE in all public schools. Upon releases of BECE results by the Ministry, all Executive Principals / school heads should request their students who failed the core subjects to retake them. Transfer cases from other schools must be properly verified and documented by the receiving school.
10)ADMISSION INTO CERTIFICATE CLASSES (PRIMARY 6, JSS 3, SS 3, TECH 3): All schools (public and private) are hereby reminded that the Ministry’s policy prohibiting admission into certificate classes (Primary 6, JSS 3, SS 3 and Tech 3) without the written approval of the Honourable Commissioner for Education remains strictly in force. Schools are not permitted to admit new students into these classes without official clearance and approval by the Honourable Commissioner for Education.
Non-compliance will attract severe sanctions, including the immediate closure of the school without prior notice, and the School Head/Owner shall be prosecuted in accordance with the Education Law and other statutory frameworks of the Ministry.
11)EXAMINATION CONDUCT: All forms of examination malpractice and irregularities must be eradicated. School administrators, teachers, and learners must uphold honesty and credibility during all internal and external examinations. Any breach will attract strict sanctions.
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12)CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: All schools must implement co-curricular
programmes including sports, which are mandatory in Edo State schools.
13)SCHOOL SANITATION: All schools must maintain a clean and hygienic environment at all times Learning environments in all schools must be safe, child-friendly, and value-oriented. Weekly sanitation exercises must be observed, and students should be involved in keeping their classrooms clean. Heads of schools will be held accountable for poor sanitary conditions. However, keeping the school tidy should not in any way hinder effective teaching and learning which should commence from the first day of resumption.
(14)ATTENDANCE AND LOITERING: Executive Principals should ensure that both staff and students are regular and punctual at school. Daily attendance must be taken for all students. Loitering during school hours is strictly prohibited. Students found outside their classrooms without valid reasons shall face disciplinary measures while their principals sanctioned as appropriate. All School heads are expected to enforce full compliance with attendance policies.
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15) MANDATORY ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS TRAINING FOR JSS 3 STUDENTS – NEW TRADE SUBJECTS: All Executive Principals and school
Heads of Junior Secondary Schools in the State are hereby informed that, as part of the Ministry’s ongoing reforms to bolster entrepreneurship skills among basic education students before graduation, a mandatory four-week intensive entrepreneurship skills training program has been introduced for all JSS 3 students. This is in line with the transformation drive of our education-loving Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, in ensuring that every Edo child graduates with not just an academic certificate but also a hands-on skill. A certificate of training will be issued along with the BECE certificate.
Recall also that, effective from January 2025, the Basic Education Curriculum was expanded to include fifteen (15) new trade subjects,
Non-compliance will attract severe sanctions, including the immediate closure of the school without prior notice, and the School Head/Owner shall be prosecuted in accordance with the Education Law and other statutory frameworks of the Ministry.
11)EXAMINATION CONDUCT: All forms of examination malpractice and irregularities must be eradicated. School administrators, teachers, and learners must uphold honesty and credibility during all internal and external examinations. Any breach will attract strict sanctions.
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12)CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: All schools must implement co-curricular
programmes including sports, which are mandatory in Edo State schools.
13)SCHOOL SANITATION: All schools must maintain a clean and hygienic environment at all times Learning environments in all schools must be safe, child-friendly, and value-oriented. Weekly sanitation exercises must be observed, and students should be involved in keeping their classrooms clean. Heads of schools will be held accountable for poor sanitary conditions. However, keeping the school tidy should not in any way hinder effective teaching and learning which should commence from the first day of resumption.
14)ATTENDANCE AND LOITERING: Executive Principals should ensure that
both staff and students are regular and punctual at school. Daily attendance must be taken for all students. Loitering during school hours is strictly prohibited. Students found outside their classrooms without valid reasons shall face disciplinary measures while their principals sanctioned as appropriate. All School heads are expected to enforce full compliance with attendance policies.
15) MANDATORY ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS TRAINING FOR JSS 3 STUDENTS – NEW TRADE SUBJECTS:
All Executive Principals and school
Heads of Junior Secondary Schools in the State are hereby informed that, as part of the Ministry’s ongoing reforms to bolster entrepreneurship skills among basic education students before graduation, a mandatory four-week intensive entrepreneurship skills training program has been introduced for all JSS 3 students. This is in line with the transformation drive of our education-loving Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, in ensuring that every Edo child graduates with not just an academic certificate but also a hands-on skill. A certificate of training will be issued along with the BECE certificate.
Recall also that, effective from January 2025, the Basic Education Curriculum was expanded to include fifteen (15) new trade subjects,
designed to enhance employability through practical, hands-on learning.
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Therefore, training and assessment directives are as follows:
Every JSS 3 student must select at least one trade subject from the newly introduced list below.
Students are required to sit for the trade subject assessment immediately following the BECE practical.
Failure to take the entrepreneurship skills subject will result in disqualification from accessing the BECE certificate.
All JSS 3 students must remain in school for the entrepreneurship intensive training after the BECE.
The 15 Newly Approved Trade Subjects Are:
1. Plumbing
2. Tiling and Floor Works
3. POP (Plaster of Paris) Installation
4. Event Decoration and Management
5. Bakery and Confectioneries
6. Hairstyling
7. Makeup
8. Interior Design
9. GSM Repairs
10. Satellite/TV Antenna Installation
11. CCTV, Intercom Installation, and Maintenance
12. Solar Installation and Maintenance
13. Garment Making
14.Agriculture and Processing (including crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming)
15. Basic Digital Literacy (IT and Robotics)
Action required by all school Heads:
Executive Principals and school Heads are to communicate the requirements of this memo to all JSS 3 students, parents, and staff.
Update school timetables to accommodate the entrepreneurship training period.
Ensure students understand that completion of the trade subject is critical for eligibility to receive their BECE certificate. For any further clarifications or guidance, contact the Department of Education Resource Centre of the Ministry.
6) UNDERTAKING BY NEW INTAKES: All newly admitted students must sign an Undertaking of Good Behaviour along with their parents/guardians (template attached). Signed copies are to be submitted to the Chief Inspector of Education in the relevant LGA, and a copy retained by the school head. Deadline: Two weeks from the date of resumption.
3. All School Heads, Executive Principals are directed to fully comply with the content of this memo. Any act of non-compliance will attract serious sanctions as determined by the Ministry.
Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, Honourable Commissioner for Education,
Edo State.
News
VIDEO: Why I’ve Never Tried Convincing My Christian Wife To Convert To Islam — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he has never attempted to convince his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, to convert to Islam, stressing his belief in love, religious freedom, and mutual respect among people of different faiths.
Speaking on Saturday at the funeral service of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, Tinubu said his marriage to a Christian pastor has never created any conflict in their home.
The president, who arrived in Jos, Plateau State around 2 p.m. for the ceremony at the COCIN headquarters church, said he inherited Islam from his family and has always upheld the principle of freedom of religion.
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He noted that both he and the First Lady serve the same God and would ultimately be answerable to Him, adding that what matters most are people’s deeds, character, and love for others.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, emphasising that hate should never have a place in the country.
He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Lydia Yilwada and asked God to grant comfort and blessings to those she left behind.
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He said, “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what you preach, that we should love one another.
“Nobody, nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his promises are what matter. I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me.
“No conflict. And I never did at any single time try to convince her or convert her. I believe in the freedom of religion.
“We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same almighty God. We will answer to him. We will account to him. Our deeds, our character, our love for our fellow beings are what are important.
“May the almighty accept the soul of Lydia and give all that she left behind blessings and glory, so we say, may her soul rest in peace.”
News
UK Police Quiz Six After Fatal Synagogue Attack

Six people arrested on suspicion of “terrorism”-linked offences after a fatal car-ramming and knife attack on a UK synagogue remained in police custody on Saturday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged people not to take part in pro-Palestinian protests.
Two people were killed and three others seriously wounded in Thursday’s attack in northwestern Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
Police shot dead the assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old UK citizen of Syrian descent, within minutes of the alarm being raised.
Three men and three women are in custody.
The attack has heightened fear among Britain’s Jewish community.
Police said they were patrolling places of worship across the city “with a particular focus on providing a high-visibility presence within our Jewish communities”.
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The attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester was one of the worst antisemitic incidents in Europe since the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 66,288 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the occupied territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
The Gaza conflict has inflamed passions in Britain, with frequent pro-Palestinian rallies in cities that some critics allege have stoked antisemitism.
A “global movement for Gaza UK” protest went ahead in London late on Thursday, with police making 40 arrests.
London’s Metropolitan Police asked organisers delay another planned demonstration backing the banned Palestine Action group later on Saturday.
However, organisers Defend Our Juries rejected the calls.
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A spokesman said the group “stood in solidarity” with the Jewish community over the attack.
– Accidental shooting –
Starmer urged protesters not to join the pro-Palestinian rally.
“I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews. This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain,” he said on X.
During the attack, Shamie was seen “with a big knife, banging his knife into the glass, trying to get through”, synagogue chairman of trustees Alan Levy, who helped barricade the doors, told ITV News.
“The heroes of the congregation who saw what was happening then came to the doors because he was trying to break the doors down to get in,” he added.
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A UK police watchdog, meanwhile, said it would look at the police shooting of Shamie.
The probe would also look at the shooting of a second victim who suffered a fatal gunshot and a third person who was shot but survived.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said there was no evidence anyone other than police used firearms at the scene.
“Our independent investigation will look at the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of Jihad Al-Shamie,” it said in a statement.
“A post mortem has today (Friday) concluded another man who died at the scene suffered a fatal gunshot wound.”
IOPC investigations are standard practice in situations where the use of force by police may have resulted in the death of a member of the public.
News
Edo Inaugurates Committee On Drug Abuse, Healthy Living

Edo State Government has inaugurated Drug Control Committee for the state and local governments, aimed at curbing the menace of drug abuse in the state.
Inaugurating the committee, Governor Monday Okpehbolo said the committee was not only saddled with the responsibility of curbing the menace of illicit substances, but to promote healthier living across communities in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo described the initiative as “a vital step in our unwavering commitment to stopping the menace of drug trafficking and substance use among youths.”
The governor, who bemoaned the rising tide of drug dependency and its impact on society, pointed out that the committee’s creation aligns with the national drug master plan and represents a bold stride toward protecting Edo future generations.
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On his part, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, represented by ACGN, Fidelis Cocodia, Zonal Commander, Zone 13, emphasised grassroots interventions, awareness campaigns, and support systems as the backbone of the fight against drug abuse.
Edo State commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed that while national drug use prevalence stands at 14.4 percent, Edo state surpasses the average at 15 percent.
He noted that the state is one of the hardest-hit states in the country, warning that the trend has fueled crime and heightened youth vulnerability.
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The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole pledged to make Edo a model in drug control through rehabilitation, youth enlightenment, and second-chance opportunities for recovering addicts.
Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, described drug abuse as a pandemic, noting that “you hardly see a crime without drugs being involved.”
She added that women’s empathy and influence must be harnessed in the campaign against drug abuse.
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