By Sophia Afolabi

As both public and private schools in Imo State resumes for the 2025/2026 academic session, the state government has released fresh directives aimed at curbing exploitative practices in the education system.

In a statement released by the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Bernard Ikegwuoha, said schools across the state are henceforth prohibited from demanding non-academic items or collecting unauthorized levies from students.

According to the commissioner, several schools have continued to require students to provide items such as cutlasses, hoes, shovels, buckets, mops, brooms, A4 paper, detergents, toilet paper, and antiseptics before being admitted or allowed to sit for examinations.

He described the practice as unauthorized and exploitative, noting that it places an unnecessary financial burden on parents.

“As schools resume, the Ministry has made it clear that such demands are not approved and must be stopped immediately,” the statement read.

In the same statement, Mr Ikegwuoha announced that the state has abolished the practice of printing textbooks with embedded workbooks, which he said makes textbooks difficult to reuse and unnecessarily expensive for parents.

He explained that the policy change is intended to promote reuse of textbooks, particularly for families with multiple school-age children, and to control the cost of education materials.

“Workbooks must now be printed and sold separately,” the commissioner said, adding that authors and publishers have already been notified of the change.

The government also stated that textbooks currently in circulation will remain valid for use until August 2026, after which a new list of approved textbooks will be issued and will remain valid until August 2030.

To ensure compliance with the new directives, the Ministry of Education has introduced a dedicated complaint line – 0707 659 3298 – for parents, guardians, and stakeholders to report schools found violating the policy.

Mr Ikegwuoha noted that some schools have continued to demand levies or items even after collecting examination fees, and described the situation as unacceptable.

“Let Nigerian and Imo parents, guardians, and stakeholders breathe. If you see anything going wrong at any primary or secondary school in Imo State, you must report it via text to the designated phone line,” he said.

The new directives come amid growing concerns from parents and civil society organisations about the rising cost of education in Nigeria, especially at the basic and secondary levels. Advocacy groups have repeatedly called on state governments to enforce regulations that ensure access to affordable and equitable education.

Imo State’s latest policies align with national education objectives aimed at improving transparency, reducing hidden costs, and strengthening oversight in the school system.