Abia government bans mid-school transfers for SS2 and SS3 students

The Abia State Government has announced a new policy prohibiting students from switching schools between Senior Secondary 2 (SS2) and Senior Secondary 3 (SS3).

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, disclosed the decision in a statement on Tuesday, September 9, in Umuahia. He said the ban, which covers both public and private schools, forms part of a broader reform to curb examination malpractice.

According to the commissioner, SS2 students will now be required to pass a state-organised promotion examination before advancing to SS3, a step aimed at strengthening accountability and integrity in the education system.

The statement also outlined new measures on school activities and costs. Graduation ceremonies will now be restricted to terminal classes, primary 6 and SS3, to ease the financial burden on parents. Schools have also been directed to separate textbooks from workbooks so that younger siblings can reuse textbooks. In addition, students registering for tertiary school qualifying exams must present their basic education certificates, with schools instructed not to charge more than ₦2,000 for the primary 6 certificates.

Ubochi explained that many of these certificates are often abandoned, and the new rule is intended to ensure proper documentation while reducing costs for families.

The reforms are part of Governor Alex Otti’s education policy drive, coming amid longstanding challenges in the state sector, including underfunding, poor infrastructure, and reports of widespread examination malpractice.

Other states such as Anambra, Lagos, and Enugu have adopted similar restrictions on mid-school transfers to discourage students from moving to less stringent schools ahead of critical senior secondary examinations such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council tests.

In 2023, the West African Examinations Council flagged widespread impersonation and syndicate-driven malpractice across Nigeria, with South-East states among those marked for closer scrutiny. Abia’s latest measures signal a move to restore credibility and discipline in the state’s education system.