The Benue State Government has launched extensive reforms in its education system, eliminating personalized textbooks, mandatory after-school lessons, and graduation ceremonies in schools statewide. A circular issued on August 15, 2025, and signed by Helen Nambativ Zeramo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, stated that these changes would take effect in the 2025/2026 academic year. The circular specifies that the use of customized textbooks and workbooks is now banned, as they cannot be reused by other students. Schools are instructed to return to the former method of passing down books from older to younger students to lessen the financial strain on parents. Compulsory extended lessons after regular school hours have also been prohibited, only to occur with explicit permission from parents. Additionally, graduation ceremonies for kindergarten, nursery, and basic education levels have been eliminated, with the government deeming them unnecessary and a financial burden on families. The Ministry has stressed that compliance is mandatory for all public and private schools. To facilitate effective implementation, a meeting with school owners, Parent-Teacher Associations, and other education stakeholders is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
