The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has sealed Orenda and Opal Schools over alleged victimisation of learners and violation of the Benue State Government’s policy on textbook reuse and purchase.
The Executive Secretary of BEQAEB, Dr. Terna Francis, led officials of the Board’s Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance to the schools, where a court order authorising the sealing of the premises was served on the proprietor before the facilities were locked. Dr. Francis expressed concern that, despite repeated sensitisation and directives by the Benue State Government through the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management and BEQAEB, some school proprietors continued to disregard established policies designed to protect parents and learners from unnecessary financial burdens and unfair treatment.
According to the Board, the government’s textbook policy allows parents to reuse textbooks by passing them from older children to their younger siblings. Parents are also permitted to obtain textbook lists from schools and purchase the required books from bookstores outside the schools. Dr. Francis stated that the affected schools insisted that learners purchase textbooks directly from them, contrary to the policy. More concerning, he said, were reports that some learners whose parents had paid their school fees but could not purchase the prescribed textbooks were subjected to punitive treatment, including having their homework left unmarked.
Parent-petitioners further alleged that those who had already purchased the prescribed textbooks from external bookstores and appealed to the school management to allow their children to use them for the current academic session were dismissed. The management reportedly insisted that the parents either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere. Textbooks purchased outside the schools were also not permitted in classrooms, leaving some learners demoralised and withdrawn.
Dr. Francis described the alleged practices as unacceptable and inconsistent with the protection of learners’ rights and welfare under applicable laws in Benue State and Nigeria. He explained that the government’s policy was intended to provide flexibility for parents, promote the reuse of textbooks where appropriate, and prevent schools from imposing unnecessary restrictions that undermine the interests of learners and their families.
The Board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to address the complaints, but they failed to honour the invitation. Consequently, BEQAEB, through the Attorney-General of Benue State, approached the court and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises.
In a further development, Dr. Francis stated that, despite having been served with the court order, the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, allegedly led members of staff in a violent attack on the Executive Secretary and his team. The incident reportedly involved verbal assaults against the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the Board. The Board expressed concern over the assault, stressing that compliance with lawful court orders and the peaceful resolution of disputes are essential to the rule of law and the effective regulation of educational institutions. It maintained that disagreements with regulatory authorities should be addressed through lawful channels rather than violence or intimidation.
Dr. Francis stated that the schools would remain sealed until the proprietors and administrators satisfied the conditions set by the Board and demonstrated a commitment to complying with government regulations, respecting court orders and safeguarding the rights of learners and parents. He urged parents and guardians whose children experience similar forms of alleged victimisation or violations of government education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB, accompanied by relevant evidence, assuring that such complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law.
