Private Schools Defy Govt Order On Textbook Usage
Some private schools in Osun are yet to comply with the directive of the state government on textbook usage, OSUN DEFENDER reports.
Recall that the government, through the Ministry of Education, issued a circular on September 19, 2025, signed by Permanent Secretary M. A. K. Jimoh, which mandates that the ban takes immediate effect.
According to the circular, the government cited concerns about the financial burden placed on parents and the instructional time lost to the preparations and execution of elaborate ceremonies.
The policy limits graduation ceremonies to only Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School 3 students, thereby excluding nursery and kindergarten pupils from having such events.
On the textbook front, proprietors of faith-based and private schools are now required to use textbooks strictly from an approved list.
The new rule demands that the textbooks be retained for a three-year period to benefit siblings successively.
Workbooks embedded within textbooks are also banned under the policy, which seeks to eliminate what the government regards as commercialisation in early childhood education by stopping practices that may drive up costs.
But findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some private schools are yet to abide by the order. It was learnt that a popular school in Owode-Ede, Ede North Local Government, pupils are still forced to work inside their textbooks.
The state commissioner for education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, while responding to an enquiry by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, frowned at the development, noting that necessary sanctions will be meted out to schools violating the government’s directive.
“I want to urge our people to report any school that is not complying with the government directive. There is a stringent punishment for anyone apprehended not complying with the order. Parents should endeavour to report such schools to the appropriate quarters and they will face necessary sanctions,” the commissioner stated.
Also, the Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, in Osun State, Moshood Fadare, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, stated that the union will identify such schools going against the directive to the appropriate authority, while calling on parents to collaborate with the PTA.
Fadare said: “We will identify such schools violating the order and report them to the appropriate authority. We will give them some weeks to see if they will comply. The directive by the state government is a good development and will lessen the burden on parents considering the current economic hardship in the country.
“All private schools in the state are operating under the influence of the state government because they gave them the approval to operate. Therefore, they must abide by all rules. All hands must be on deck at this particular time to ensure the directive is enforced.”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
