The Rivers State Ministry of Education has directed all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state to close for the 2025/2026 academic session on Friday, July 17, 2026.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, announced the directive while monitoring the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination in selected secondary schools across the state.
Dr. Nwagor expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the examination, commending students, school administrators and examination officials for complying with examination guidelines.
He said the state government had provided the necessary support to ensure a smooth examination process, noting that candidates were able to write their papers without interference. The commissioner reiterated the ministry’s zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice, warning that anyone caught violating examination rules would face legal sanctions.
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The commissioner also warned private schools against using graduation ceremonies or end-of-session celebrations as a means of imposing illegal levies on parents and guardians. He stressed that any school found engaging in such practices would be sanctioned by the ministry.
Dr. Nwagor further directed principals and school administrators to properly supervise students after their final examinations to prevent acts capable of causing public disturbances.
He also ordered transferred and retired teachers still occupying government-owned teachers’ quarters in public schools to vacate the facilities immediately to allow their allocation to serving officers.
The commissioner visited Community Secondary School, Rumuodumaya; Community Secondary School, Rukpokwu; and Community Secondary School, Okoro-nu-Odo, where he monitored the ongoing NECO examinations.
