Imo Stops Payment Of Admission Levies For JSS1; SS3 Students

...bans requirements for hoes, shovels, cutlasses, soaps, toilet papers by primary, secondary students as schools resume 

As all schools are resuming on Monday, September 8, 2025, and many students will be admitted into JSS 1 and SSS 1 for the 2025/2026 academic year, the issue where parents are asked, as a prerequisite for admitting their sons and daughters into JSS 1 and SSS 1, to bring shovels, hoes, cutlasses, rakes, brooms, moping sticks and buckets, hypos, detergents, bottles of dettol, soap of all kinds, toilet paper, A4 paper and to a great extent, they’re also asked to pay some admission levies, and examination fees, in both private and public schools (except those living in boarding schools) is now of serious concern to the Ministry and the Hon. Commissioner. Consequently, therefore, the Hon. Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. B. T. O Ikegwuoha has requested that this practice be stopped forthwith. 

All Principals of Junior and Senior Secondary Schools are by this notice, asked to stop this illegal and unapproved practices. To this effect, a dedicated phone number: *0707 659 3298* is hereby introduced to parents, guardians, pupils, students and all stakeholders in Imo State, to report any complaints regarding Princicipals and Primary School HMs flouting or disobeying Government approved policies, including but not limited to the sale and use of textbooks every year by schools (private or public). 

Please note that all textbooks already purchased by pupils and students are to be in use for 4 years, which ends in August 2026 when new list of approved textbooks will be introduced and *they will be in circulation for 4 years, ending in August 2030.

Additionally, the Ministry has abolished the printing of textbooks with workbooks embedded inside them by authors and publishers, thus prohibiting the re-use of textbooks by younger siblings of graduating relatives, brothers and sisters. This practice will no longer be tolerated. Henceforth workbooks are to be printed and distributed separately. All authors and publishers for Imo State School System have already been notified.

As you’re all aware, many secondary schools (private and public) have gone as far as asking parents, guardians, students, etc., to bring during admission the following items and materials: A4 paper even after paying for exam fees, some go as far as disobeying regulations and education policies. The above information is aimed at curbing extortion from private school owners and public schools’ HMs and Principals.

Let the Nigerian and Imo parents, guardians and stakeholders breathe.

Remember that if you see something going wrong at any of the Primary and Secondary Schools in Imo State, you must say something -text your message, once again to: 0707 659 3298 (*no phone calls*)

Signed:

Prof. B. T. O Ikegwuoha,

Hon. Commissioner