The Abia State Government has announced a new policy barring the transfer of students from Senior Secondary 2 (SS2) to Senior Secondary 3 (SS3), in a decisive move to tackle examination malpractice.
Goodluck Ubochi, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He explained that the restriction applies to both public and private schools in the state.
According to him, all SS2 students will now be required to sit for and pass a state-organised promotion examination before being admitted into SS3.
He described the measure as an accountability step designed to uphold integrity in the education system.
Ubochi also unveiled a set of reforms aimed at reducing costs for parents and strengthening documentation.
He said graduation ceremonies will henceforth be limited to terminal classes, specifically Primary 6 and SS3, to reduce financial pressures on families.
Similarly, schools have been directed to issue textbooks and workbooks separately to enable younger siblings to reuse textbooks, further easing expenses on households.
The commissioner added that it is now compulsory for students seeking to register for tertiary entrance examinations to present their Basic Education Certificates.
To make this accessible, schools have been instructed not to charge more than ₦2,000 for Primary 6 certificates.
Ubochi noted that many parents often neglect to collect these certificates, and the new rule will ensure proper record-keeping while eliminating unnecessary costs.
The commissioner stressed that the reforms were not punitive but intended to restore credibility to the state’s education system.
“We must ensure accountability and integrity in our schools. These policies are designed to protect the soul of education in Abia State,” he said.
