Ondo Bans Primary 4-to-Secondary School Promotion, Targets ‘Miracle Centres’
The Ondo State Government has banned the promotion of pupils from Primary 4 directly to secondary school, insisting that children must complete six years of primary education before progressing under Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, announced the policy during a meeting with education stakeholders in Akure ahead of the new academic session.
Ajibefun said premature promotion was depriving children of essential learning years and leaving some pupils without the academic foundation needed to cope with secondary education and national examinations.
He said the government had discovered cases where pupils were moved from Primary 4 to secondary school, bypassing Primary 5 and Primary 6.
Under the new policy, pupils are expected to complete six years of primary education before entering junior secondary school. However, exceptionally brilliant pupils may still qualify for double promotion based on their academic performance.
The commissioner linked the practice of premature promotion to poor preparation for examinations and warned that pupils who lack adequate foundations may become vulnerable to examination malpractice.
Ondo will also intensify monitoring of examination “miracle centres”, which Ajibefun said facilitate examination fraud. Facilities found to be involved in malpractice will face government action.
The state government is further targeting unregistered private schools, including schools operating from single rooms and sheds without proper documentation.
Ajibefun said the measures would take effect from the new academic year as the government seeks to strengthen education quality and ensure children receive the required years of foundational learning.
