Abia Bans SS2–SS3 Transfers in Public, Private Schools
The Abia State Government has announced a new education policy that prohibits students from switching schools between Senior Secondary 2 (SS2) and Senior Secondary 3 (SS3).
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, disclosed this in Umuahia, explaining that the ban, effective in both public and private schools, is aimed at curbing examination malpractice and strengthening accountability in the system.
According to the commissioner, all SS2 students must now pass a state-organised promotion examination before progressing to SS3. He further explained that graduation ceremonies will henceforth be restricted to terminal classes, specifically Primary 6 and SS3, to reduce the financial burden on parents.
In the same vein, schools have been directed to separate textbooks from workbooks so that younger siblings can reuse textbooks, thereby cutting costs for families.
The government also emphasized that students registering for tertiary qualifying examinations must present their basic education certificates. To make this accessible, schools are barred from charging more than ₦2,000 for the Primary 6 certificate.
The reforms form part of Governor Alex Otti’s broader agenda to restore discipline, reduce costs, and fight malpractice in Abia’s struggling education sector, which has faced years of underfunding and dilapidated infrastructure.
Similar policies restricting school transfers at senior levels are already in place in states like Anambra, Lagos, and Enugu, in response to widespread malpractice during national and regional examinations.
By reinforcing integrity, reducing exploitation, and easing financial pressure on families, these reforms guarantee every child in Nigeria the right to free, quality, and equitable education without undue burden.
