The Rivers State Government has directed all public and private primary and secondary schools to close for the 2025/2026 academic session on Friday, July 17, 2026, in line with the approved academic calendar.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, announced the directive while monitoring the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination at selected secondary schools across the state.
During the inspection, Nwagor expressed satisfaction with the orderly and transparent conduct of the examinations, commending students, school administrators and examination officials for complying with established guidelines.
He said the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara had provided all the necessary logistics and support to ensure a hitch-free examination exercise.
“The government has provided everything required for the successful conduct of the examination. The exercise has been seamless, and students were observed writing their examinations independently without any form of interference,” the commissioner said.
Reaffirming the government’s hardline stance against examination malpractice, Nwagor warned that anyone found violating examination regulations would face the full weight of the law.
He also issued a stern warning to private school proprietors against organising end-of-session parties or graduation ceremonies as a means of imposing illegal levies on parents and guardians.
According to him, the ministry will not tolerate any form of extortion disguised as graduation or end-of-session celebrations, adding that schools found culpable would be sanctioned.
The commissioner further directed principals and school administrators to ensure that students refrain from engaging in any conduct capable of constituting a public nuisance after completing their external examinations. He urged school authorities to properly supervise and counsel students to maintain peace and public order.
Nwagor also ordered all transferred and retired teachers still occupying teachers’ quarters in public schools across the state to vacate the facilities immediately to enable the government allocate the accommodation to eligible serving officers.
The commissioner visited Community Secondary School, Rumuodumaya; Community Secondary School, Rukpokwu; and Community Secondary School, Okoro-nu-Odo, where he monitored the NECO examination and assessed compliance with examination standards.
