Tech & Tools DeskAbia Prohibits Transfers Between SS2 and SS3
The Abia State Government has announced a new policy prohibiting students from transferring between Senior Secondary 2 (SS2) and Senior Secondary 3 (SS3) classes.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Umuahia. He explained that the measure, which applies to both public and private schools, is aimed at curbing examination malpractice.
According to him, all SS2 students must now pass a state-organised promotion examination before moving to SS3. “This initiative is designed to strengthen accountability and integrity in the education system,” he said.
On basic school graduation ceremonies, Ubochi noted that such events will now be restricted to terminal classes — Primary 6 and SS3 — to reduce financial strain on parents.
He further announced that schools must separate textbooks from workbooks to allow reuse by younger siblings, cutting down costs for families.
Additionally, students enrolling for tertiary entrance examinations will be required to present their basic education certificates. To support this, schools have been directed not to charge more than ₦2,000 for Primary 6 certificates, addressing concerns that many parents often leave them uncollected.
The commissioner explained that these changes are part of Governor Alex Otti’s broader reforms to tackle underfunding, poor infrastructure, and persistent malpractice in the state’s education sector.
Similar restrictions on mid-school transfers have been implemented in states such as Anambra, Lagos, and Enugu, aimed at preventing students from moving to less stringent schools ahead of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) tests.
In 2023, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) raised alarms over impersonation and organized malpractice across Nigeria, with South-East states flagged for closer monitoring. Abia’s latest reforms reflect a renewed push to restore discipline and credibility in its schools.
