MIXED REACTIONS IN BAYELSA OVER CALLS TO BAN GRADUATION CEREMONIES, REGULATE TEXTBOOK USE

As schools resume in Bayelsa State, some residents of Yenagoa have expressed mixed reactions over whether government should ban kindergarten and primary school graduation ceremonies, and also introduce a policy to regulate the use of textbooks.

Recall that the governments of Imo and Benue States recently banned graduation ceremonies for nursery and primary pupils, restricted the use of textbooks to four years, and outlawed customised textbooks and exercise books.

Reacting to these policies in an interview with our correspondents, Mrs. Ganrere David Perekeme supported the ban on graduation ceremonies, saying they put unnecessary financial pressure on parents who sometimes struggle to feed.

On the textbook policy, Miss Seth David noted that while buying textbooks is not bad, many schools exploit parents through compulsory sales.

Mrs. Dolly Derigha, another resident, opposed the ban on graduation ceremonies. She said such events create joyful memories for children and help them prepare for the next stage of their education. She, however, welcomed the textbook policy, explaining that it would ease the burden on parents who constantly buy new books every term.

Also speaking, Mr. Ebilade Naingba supported the four-year textbook usage, describing it as a relief for parents given the harsh economy. He however, warned that private schools may resist the policy if adopted in Bayelsa, stressing that many rely on textbook sales as a source of income, unlike public schools funded by government.

Reported by Elizabeth Enoch and Stephen Azorbo