CROSS RIVER STATE - School lessons after 2pm prohibited

Reclaiming Childhood: Cross River State’s Bold Ban on School Lessons After 2PM

In a sweeping move that has stirred both applause and debate, the Cross River State Government has enacted a landmark education reform prohibiting school lessons beyond 2:00 PM.

This directive, part of a broader overhaul announced on September 24, 2025, by the Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, marks a decisive shift in how the state approaches child welfare and academic structure.

The policy mandates that primary schools conclude their day by 1:00 PM, while secondary schools must wrap up by 2:00 PM. The rationale is rooted in concerns over mental fatigue, physical stress, and the mounting financial pressure on parents caused by compulsory after-school lessons. Governor Bassey Otu’s administration has emphasized that education should not come at the cost of a child’s well-being or a family’s economic stability. By curbing extended hours, the government aims to restore balance to students’ lives, allowing time for rest, play, and family engagement, elements often sacrificed in the pursuit of academic excellence.

This reform doesn’t outlaw extra lessons entirely. However, it stipulates that such sessions must be voluntary and conducted only with parental consent. Importantly, the Ministry of Education will not bear responsibility for any incidents arising from activities held outside the approved school hours, drawing a clear boundary between institutional oversight and private arrangements.

The ban is part of a larger tapestry of reforms designed to standardize educational practices across public and private institutions. These include the enforcement of a unified academic calendar, the restriction of graduation ceremonies to certificate classes, and the exclusive use of Ministry-approved textbooks. Together, these measures reflect a commitment to equity, efficiency, and the holistic development of students.

Critics argue that the prohibition could disadvantage students preparing for competitive exams or those needing remedial support. Yet proponents counter that quality education is not synonymous with longer hours, and that cognitive overload can undermine learning outcomes. The policy, they say, is a call to rethink pedagogy and prioritize depth over duration.

Ultimately, Cross River State’s decision to end school lessons by mid-afternoon is a bold experiment in educational reform. It challenges entrenched norms and places the child, not the curriculum, at the center of the school day.

Whether other states will follow suit remains to be seen, but for now, Cross River has drawn a line in the sand: childhood is not negotiable, and education must serve the whole child, not just the academic one.