BEQAEB seals 2 schools over alleged learner victimisation, policy breach
BEQAEB seals 2 schools over alleged learner victimisation, policy breach
The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has sealed Orenda and Opal schools over alleged victimisation of learners and violation of the state government’s textbook policy.
BEQAEB Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, led officials of the board’s Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance to serve a court order on the proprietor before sealing the school premises on Friday in Makurdi.
Francis said the action followed complaints that the schools violated the government’s policy allowing parents to reuse textbooks and purchase prescribed books from external bookshops.
He explained that the policy was designed to reduce the financial burden on parents and promote the reuse of textbooks by younger siblings.
According to him, the affected schools allegedly insisted that learners purchase textbooks directly from them, contrary to the government’s directive.
He said parents alleged that some learners whose school fees had been paid but whose prescribed textbooks were unavailable were subjected to punitive treatment.
Francis stated that the complaints included allegations that teachers refused to mark the homework of affected learners because their parents had not purchased the prescribed textbooks.
He added that some parents who had bought the books from external bookshops were allegedly asked to purchase new copies directly from the schools or withdraw their children.
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According to him, the restrictions reportedly left some learners demoralised and affected their participation in classroom activities.
Francis described the alleged practices as unacceptable, saying they undermined the rights and welfare of learners and imposed unnecessary financial burdens on parents.
He said the board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to address the complaints, but they failed to honour the invitation.
The executive secretary said BEQAEB subsequently approached a court through the state attorney-general and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the premises.
He further alleged that the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, led members of staff in attacking him and his team after the court order was served.
Francis said the incident involved verbal assaults on the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the board.
He stressed that school proprietors were expected to comply with lawful court orders and resolve disagreements with regulatory authorities through established legal channels.
Francis said the schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators met the board’s conditions and demonstrated compliance with government regulations.
The executive secretary urged parents and guardians whose children experienced similar alleged victimisation or violations of education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB with supporting evidence.
He assured the public that the board would investigate such complaints and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
