The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has sealed Orenda and Opal schools in Makurdi over alleged victimisation of learners and violations of the state government’s textbook policy.
BEQAEB Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, led the board’s enforcement officials to serve a court order on the proprietor before sealing the school premises on Friday, October 9. He said the action followed complaints that the schools compelled parents to buy prescribed textbooks directly from them, contrary to the government’s policy permitting textbook reuse and purchases from external bookshops.
Francis said parents alleged that some learners whose school fees had been paid were subjected to punitive treatment because their prescribed textbooks were unavailable or had been purchased elsewhere. The complaints reportedly included teachers refusing to mark homework and learners being asked to buy new copies from the schools or risk withdrawing from classes. He said the policy was intended to reduce the financial burden on parents and encourage textbook reuse among siblings.
The executive secretary said the board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to resolve the complaints, but they failed to attend. BEQAEB subsequently obtained a court order through the state attorney-general. Francis also alleged that the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, and some staff verbally assaulted the officials after the order was served and damaged an official vehicle. He said the schools would remain sealed until their administrators met the board’s conditions and complied with government regulations.
Francis urged parents and guardians whose children had experienced similar alleged victimisation or policy violations to submit formal petitions with supporting evidence to BEQAEB. He said the board would investigate complaints and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
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