Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ondo State Government has banned the promotion of pupils from Primary 4 directly into secondary school, warning public and private schools across the state against violating the national 6-3-3-4 education policy. The directive, announced by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, during a meeting with education stakeholders in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, marks a significant escalation in the state's ongoing efforts to sanitise its education sector. The government also unveiled measures to tackle examination miracle centres and shut down unregistered and undocumented private schools operating in the state.
Ajibefun said the premature promotion of pupils was undermining education quality by denying them two years of learning at the primary level. He explained that the policy was being implemented because some pupils who were not adequately prepared were subsequently registered for state and national examinations. "We noticed that some students who are not qualified for certain exams, like state exams, and even national exams like WAEC, are being registered for these exams," he said. "The education policy of Nigeria is 6-3-3-4. That means six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary school and three years in senior secondary school. But many of our schools, particularly primary schools, bypass this policy. We have cases where pupils are moved from Primary 4 to secondary schools."
The commissioner emphasised that pupils must complete six years of primary education before proceeding to secondary school, although exceptionally brilliant pupils could benefit from double promotion. "For a student to spend just four years, it means two years are cut off from the learning environment and the learning process. Some students, when they get to secondary school, don't have the foundation to cope, and when they get to the point of writing the WAEC exam, this is why they will want to cheat and commit all forms of exam fraud," Ajibefun stated. He said the state would fully implement the Federal Government's 6-3-3-4 policy, stressing that double promotion would only apply to academically qualified pupils. "We are stopping students, pupils, from moving to secondary school without passing through Primary Six. If we have very brilliant students, yes, they can have double promotion. But not that all pupils in the class would jump from Primary Five to Primary Six. That is what is also affecting the quality of education in our environment," he said.
Ajibefun also announced a crackdown on examination miracle centres, saying the government would not tolerate facilities where examination malpractice was perpetrated. "We do hear about the examination miracle centres. Yes, we learned that the exam miracle centres are where all forms of exam fraud are committed. So, we are going to look at these areas; we are going to do total monitoring. If we discover any, this is the time to eliminate it," he said. The commissioner said the government would also move against private schools operating without registration or proper documentation. He said the number of unregistered private schools in the state was believed to be higher than that of registered schools, adding that some schools were operating from single rooms and sheds without being captured in government records. "Having identified some of the issues that require some corrective measures, the ministry is coming up with new policies and these new policies will take effect, most of them, from this new academic year," Ajibefun stated.
The decision forms part of a wider reform agenda aimed at restoring discipline, quality assurance and accountability within Ondo's education sector. The government warned that schools found violating the regulations risk sanctions, closure and prosecution where necessary. The commissioner explained that many illegal schools operate below minimum standards, employing unqualified personnel and exposing pupils to poor learning environments. He said the Ministry of Education is reviewing guidelines for establishing private schools and strengthening inspection mechanisms to ensure compliance with approved academic and infrastructural standards.
The renewed enforcement follows several education reforms introduced by the Ondo government over the past year. These include the ban on graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary and junior secondary schools, the re-accreditation of private schools and investigations into unauthorised fees collected from pupils in public primary schools. Education authorities said the reforms are designed to protect parents from exploitation while ensuring that pupils receive quality instruction consistent with national standards. The state also recently introduced a digital admission processing system for JSS1 and fixed cut-off marks for admissions into public secondary schools, alongside efforts to strengthen oversight of both public and private institutions.
Ondo's education reforms align with its 2025–2028 Medium-Term Basic Education Strategic Plan, which prioritises improved learning outcomes, teacher development, stronger quality assurance and greater access to equitable basic education across the state's 18 local government areas. Ajibefun urged school proprietors to comply fully with the directives, stressing that the government's objective is not to frustrate genuine operators but to safeguard educational standards and give every child the opportunity to complete a solid foundation in basic education. The government said monitoring teams from the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies will intensify inspections across schools as enforcement of the new measures begins.
The crackdown on early promotion and miracle centres is a direct response to a growing crisis in Nigeria's basic education sector, where the pressure to produce results has led many schools to cut corners at the expense of genuine learning. By insisting that pupils complete the full six years of primary education, the Ondo State Government is sending a clear message that shortcuts will no longer be tolerated. Whether the policy will be fully enforced, and whether schools will comply, remains to be seen, but for now, the government has drawn a line in the sand. For parents and pupils across the state, the message is equally clear: there are no shortcuts to a solid education.
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