Anambra Mother Raises Concerns Over School’s Graduation Arrangements After Government Ban

An Anambra mother, Mrs Chinenye Loveth, has narrated her experience after the state government’s ban on graduation ceremonies in schools, alleging that the management of her children’s school took a last minute decision that left some parents and pupils inconvenienced.

The state government had announced that schools should no longer organise elaborate graduation ceremonies, a decision that led parents in the school’s WhatsApp group to question what would happen to the ₦10,000 graduation fee they had already paid.

According to Mrs Loveth, some parents suggested that the money should be refunded, while others proposed that it be carried over and deducted from the following term’s school fees. She said the parents were not seeking confrontation, but simply wanted fairness and transparency.

She explained that the graduation ceremony was originally scheduled for the previous Sunday, while the following Friday was set aside for the collection of results. However, she said the school later asked Basic Six and Nursery Three pupils to return home and bring their graduation clothes, without prior notice to their parents.

Mrs Loveth said her daughter called her through a neighbour’s phone while she was at work, informing her that the children had been asked to return home for their graduation outfits.

She said the sudden decision created difficulties for working parents, some of whom might have been far from home or unable to leave their workplaces at short notice. She added that some pupils who could not get their graduation clothes were unable to take pictures, as parents were reportedly required to pay before photographs could be taken.

The mother said she was particularly disappointed that, despite the ₦10,000 graduation payment, her daughter was unable to take a photograph because she could not get to the school in time.

She further alleged that the school proceeded with a form of graduation activity rather than refunding the money, while the graduation gifts given to her four children were the items she displayed.

Mrs Loveth, who expressed disappointment that the school is owned by a church, said institutions that teach children honesty, compassion and integrity should also demonstrate those values in their dealings with parents.

She said children learn not only from classroom lessons and religious teachings, but also from how institutions treat people and how adults respond to difficult situations.

The mother stressed that her concerns were not simply about graduation clothes or gifts, but about communication, respect and trust between schools and parents.

She appealed for parents to be treated as partners in their children’s education, noting that parents work hard to pay school fees and provide other requirements for their children’s education.

Mrs Loveth said the experience had left her disappointed, insisting that better communication and consideration for parents would have prevented the situation.