NEW EDUCATION POLICY REFORMS FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CROSS RIVER STATE
His Excellency, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of Cross River State has approved the implementation of the under listed reforms in the state school system. The Ministry of Education is determined to ensure a holistic implementation of the said reforms in all our basic and senior secondary Education for the attainment of desired goals.
1. UNIFORM ACADEMIC CALENDAR
All public and private schools must adhere strictly and align at all times to the approved Calendar for opening and closure of schools. Although, the policy is already being implemented, it is however captured here again for purpose of emphasis to convey the seriousness attached to it. Therefore, the Ministry will not hesitate to sanction any school that flouts this policy which will include derecognition and withholding of ATO.
2. GRADUATION CEREMONIES
Graduation ceremonies and parties for kindergarten, nursery and Junior Secondary 3 Students are hereby abolished. Graduation Ceremonies and parties is henceforth reserved and permitted only for certificate classes, (that is: Primary 6, JSS 3 and SS 3).
3. USE OF APPROVED TEXTBOOKS
Henceforth, only the approved textbooks from the Ministry of Education are to be used in schools. As a follow-up therefore, the printing of textbooks with enclosed workbooks by authors and publishers thereby making them non-transferable from the senior pupils and students to their younger ones is hereby prohibited. Basically, this policy is meant to promote standards and uniformity in the school system and to ensure that textbooks are reusable.
4. SCHOOL LESSONS AFTER CLOSE OF SCHOOLS AT 2:00PM
It has been observed that most private and public schools in the State now engage in organizing compulsory school lessons for pupils and students after the conventional 1:00pm and 2:00pm dismissal period respectively.
This prolonged stay in school which exposes the children, particularly the pupils to mental fatigue and physical stress, is not only unhealthy, but also puts unnecessary pressure and increased burden on the parents called upon to pay the lessons fees in addition to the school fees. Therefore, school lessons after the conventional dismissal period of 2:00pm is hereby prohibited. Children should be allowed to go home and do their homework after resting for a while. Accordingly, the 1:00pm and 2:00pm closing period for the primary and secondary schools respectively should be strictly adhered to. However, any lessons after the approved period is at the discretion of the parents and the Ministry will not be held responsible for any issue arising therefrom.
5. ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTI-DRUG CLUBS IN SCHOOLS
The rampant cases of pupils and students engaged in the taking of hard drugs of various types has become very disturbing, worrisome and therefore require a very urgent and proactive measure to address such ugly practice. Accordingly, all public and private primary/secondary schools in the State are hereby directed to immediately commence the formation of anti-drug clubs in schools. The Clubs which should be made up of decent pupils/students is expected to among others, monitor and report cases of pupils/students' involvement in drugs activities to the authorities for further necessary action. Establishment of this club is mandatory for both Public and Private Schools in the State.
6. BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
In-spite of Government's efforts to eliminate the acts of bullying in schools, the act still persists, especially in the Secondary Schools. It has therefore become necessary for more stringent measures to be taken against bullying to achieve its elimination in our schools. Consequently, any student caught bullying a fellow student should face instant expulsion to serve as deterrent to others. Meanwhile, Principals of schools, both public and private are mandatorily required to constitute Anti-bullying Committees to monitor and ensure compliance with the "No Bullying" Policy in schools.
7. PUPILS/STUDENTS INDEX NUMBER
From the 2025/2026 academic session, pupils and students from all public and private schools in the State will be issued with index numbers to be used from Kindergarten through primary to SS 3. This will facilitate accurate and reliable data collection, as well as regulate the incessant movement of pupils/students from one school to another without the formal process of transfer. In view of the need to ensure the seamless admission of pupils and students into the new classes, issuance of the said index numbers will commence from the first quarter of 2026 when all admission processes and documentation must have been completed.
NOTE THAT:
(a) The implementation of the above policies by the affected school managers and proprietors is expected to commence immediately.
(b) Strict compliance and adherence to the policies is expected as defiance of same will attract appropriate sanctions.
(c)
Parents, Guardians and relevant stakeholders are enjoined to monitor implementation of these new policies and provide necessary feedback to the Ministry for further necessary action.
Sen. Prof. Stephen A. Odey
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