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Benue State schools are facing significant disruptions in the registration and clearance processes for external examinations, as overlapping roles between the Ministry of Education and the Benue State Examination and Quality Assurance Agency (BEQA) continue to create confusion and frustration among administrators, parents, and students.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Francis Oche Atama, Principal of St. John Secondary School, Amoke, in Apa Local Government Area, has voiced strong concerns over the persistent administrative bottlenecks. According to Atama, schools frequently find themselves caught in the crossfire: statutory records purchased from the Ministry of Education are often rejected by BEQA, while documents obtained from BEQA are similarly turned down by the Ministry. This results in double charges for the same services and repeated demands for payments that are not mutually recognized between the two agencies.
Atama described the situation as an annual ordeal that has worsened in recent years, leaving school heads uncertain about which authority holds responsibility for approvals and clearances. He emphasized that the confusion stems not from efforts to improve educational quality or safeguard the interests of Benue children, but rather from an underlying struggle for control over the examination clearance process.
The cleric highlighted the heavier burden this places on parents, especially in rural communities already grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, and falling prices for farm produce. These factors have severely strained household incomes, yet families are being forced to pay higher examination-related charges due to the administrative failures.
Atama, drawing from years of experience in the education sector—including previous leadership roles at both state and national levels—called on Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia to exercise his executive powers to clearly define institutional responsibilities and put an end to the rivalry. He also urged the Benue State House of Assembly to enact legislation that would permanently address the recurring problem.
“If free education is not possible, the government should at least avoid policies that further punish parents because of administrative failures,” Atama stated. He warned that ongoing silence from both the executive and legislative branches could deepen public frustration and erode confidence in the state’s education system.
The education stakeholder described the crisis as embarrassing and entirely avoidable, urging swift action from authorities to resolve what he sees as a needless embarrassment in Benue State’s education administration. As external examinations such as WASSCE, NECO SSCE, and BECE approach, the unresolved issues threaten to further complicate preparations for thousands of students across the state.
