The Benue State Government has sealed two private schools in Makurdi following complaints that pupils were allegedly mistreated because their parents failed to purchase prescribed textbooks directly from the institutions.
The affected schools, Orenda and Opal Schools, were sealed by the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) after a court order was obtained to authorise the enforcement action.
The board's Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, said the decision followed repeated complaints from parents who alleged that their children were being disadvantaged despite payment of their school fees because they had not bought exercise books and test books from the schools.
According to Francis, some pupils were allegedly prevented from using textbooks purchased from external bookstores, while others reportedly had their homework left unmarked because their parents had not purchased the required materials directly from the institutions.
The board said the alleged practices continued despite previous attempts to engage the school proprietor and management over compliance with the state's textbook policy. Francis explained that the board initially contacted the proprietor and subsequently invited the relevant school representatives to meetings intended to resolve the complaints. He said those efforts did not produce the required outcome.
The state government's textbook policy allows parents to reuse suitable books previously purchased for older children and pass them on to younger siblings. It also permits families to obtain prescribed textbook lists from schools and purchase the required materials from independent bookstores rather than being compelled to buy directly from school management.
Francis said the policy was designed to reduce unnecessary financial pressure on families and give parents greater freedom when sourcing educational materials. He maintained that schools should not make purchases from their own premises a condition for pupils to participate fully in classroom activities.
The board subsequently approached a court through the office of the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the closure of the two school premises. Officials then carried out the enforcement exercise in Makurdi.
Francis said the schools would remain sealed indefinitely until their proprietors and administrators met the conditions set by the board and demonstrated a willingness to comply with government regulations and protect the interests of pupils and their parents.
The development serves as a warning to private school operators in the state that education policies governing textbook purchases and reuse are expected to be respected. The board also warned that further violations could attract enforcement action against other institutions.
Parents and guardians who experience similar problems in other schools have been encouraged to submit formal complaints to BEQAEB, accompanied by supporting evidence, so the allegations can be examined and appropriate action taken.
The closure of Orenda and Opal Schools has brought renewed attention to the financial pressures families face when preparing their children for a new academic session. It also highlights the responsibility of education regulators to ensure that disputes over learning materials do not unfairly disadvantage pupils who have already paid their school fees.
The next step for the affected schools will depend on their compliance with the conditions imposed by the relevant authorities and the resolution of the issues that led to the enforcement action.
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