THE Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has sealed Orenda and Opal Schools over alleged victimisation of learners and violations of the Benue State Government’s textbook policy.
News Point Nigeria reports that the action followed a reported attack on the board’s officials by the schools’ proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, and some staff members after they were served with a court order authorising the closure of the premises.
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The Executive Secretary of BEQAEB, Dr Terna Francis, disclosed this on Friday while explaining the circumstances surrounding the sealing of the schools. He accused Okoye and some members of staff of verbally assaulting his team and damaging an official vehicle during the enforcement exercise.
Francis said the action followed complaints from parents that the schools allegedly compelled them to purchase prescribed textbooks directly from the institutions, contrary to the state government’s policy permitting the reuse of textbooks and purchases from external bookstores.
He explained that the board had repeatedly sensitised school proprietors on the policy, which allows parents to pass textbooks from older children to their younger siblings and purchase required books from bookstores of their choice.
However, the affected schools allegedly insisted that learners obtain their textbooks directly from the institutions, regardless of whether their parents had already purchased the prescribed books elsewhere.
The executive secretary added that some learners whose parents had paid their school fees but could not afford the textbooks sold by the schools were allegedly subjected to punitive treatment, including having their homework left unmarked.
He further alleged that parents who had purchased the prescribed textbooks from external bookstores and sought permission for their children to use them during the current academic session were rebuffed by the school management.
According to Francis, the parents were reportedly told to either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere.
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He added that the schools allegedly prohibited learners from bringing textbooks purchased outside their premises into the classrooms, leaving some pupils demoralised and withdrawn.
Francis described the alleged practices as unacceptable, stressing that the government’s policy was designed to ease the financial burden on parents, encourage textbook reuse and protect learners from unfair treatment.
The executive secretary explained that BEQAEB had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to address the complaints, but they failed to honour the invitation.
He said the board subsequently approached the court through the Attorney-General of Benue State and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises.
Francis alleged that after the court order was served, Okoye led some members of staff in an attack on him and other officials carrying out the enforcement exercise.
According to him, the incident involved verbal assaults against the officials and the destruction of a vehicle belonging to the board.
He stressed that regulatory disputes should be resolved through lawful channels rather than violence or intimidation, adding that compliance with court orders was essential to upholding the rule of law.
Francis said the schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators met the conditions prescribed by the board and demonstrated a commitment to complying with government regulations, respecting court orders and protecting the rights of learners and parents.
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He urged parents and guardians whose children had experienced similar alleged victimisation or violations of government education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB with supporting evidence.
The executive secretary assured them that all complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law.
