Benue Seals Two Schools Over Textbook Policy Breach, Pupil Victimisation Claims
Benue Moves to Protect Parents’ Pockets as Textbook Dispute Forces Closure of Two Schools
By Akin Alade
The Benue State Government has intensified efforts to protect parents from compulsory textbook purchases and safeguard pupils’ welfare, following the closure of two private schools in Makurdi over alleged violations of the state’s textbook policy.
The Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) sealed Orenda and Opal Schools after receiving complaints that pupils were allegedly victimised for failing to purchase prescribed exercise books and test books directly from the schools. The enforcement action highlights growing concerns about the financial pressures facing families and the need for private school operators to comply with education regulations.
According to the board’s Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, parents alleged that some pupils whose school fees had already been paid were denied normal academic attention because their families could not afford to buy the required books from the schools. In some reported cases, teachers allegedly failed to mark pupils’ homework, while children who brought books purchased from external bookstores were reportedly prevented from using them in the classroom.
The government’s textbook policy allows parents to reuse suitable textbooks previously purchased for older children and pass them on to younger siblings. It also permits parents to obtain approved textbook lists from schools and buy the required materials from independent bookstores. Schools may sell textbooks, but parents should not be compelled to purchase them exclusively from school management.
BEQAEB said the enforcement action followed repeated attempts to resolve the dispute through communication and meetings with the affected school administrators. According to the board, the proprietor and management failed to honour invitations intended to address the complaints. The agency subsequently approached the court through the state Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the premises.
The dispute raises broader questions about the balance between private school administration and the rights of parents and pupils. While schools require learning materials to deliver effective instruction, education authorities maintain that textbook arrangements should not impose unnecessary financial burdens on families or expose children to unfair treatment because of their parents’ purchasing decisions.
The board also warned that the affected schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators met the required conditions and demonstrated compliance with government regulations. BEQAEB urged parents experiencing similar problems to submit formal complaints supported by relevant evidence so that the authorities could investigate and take appropriate action.
The development serves as a reminder to private school operators across Benue State that compliance with education policies and the protection of learners’ welfare remain essential responsibilities. Whether the intervention will lead to broader compliance across the state’s private education sector will depend on consistent enforcement, transparent communication with parents and a commitment to ensuring that no child is disadvantaged by disputes over the purchase of textbooks.
