Benue Shuts Two Schools Over Alleged Textbook Policy Violations, Victimisation of Pupils

 

By Atlantic Reports

The Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has sealed Orenda and Opal schools in Makurdi following allegations that pupils were victimised for failing to purchase prescribed textbooks directly from the institutions.

The enforcement action, carried out on Friday, October 9, 2026, followed complaints from parents accusing the schools of disregarding a state government policy permitting families to reuse textbooks and purchase prescribed learning materials from independent bookshops.

BEQAEB Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, led officials of the board's Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance to the premises, where a court order was served before the schools were sealed.

Francis said the intervention was intended to protect learners from alleged discriminatory treatment and ensure compliance with regulations designed to reduce education costs for families.

The allegations have raised questions about textbook sales practices in private schools and the extent to which commercial policies can interfere with children's access to education.

Parents Accuse Schools of Compulsory Textbook Purchases

According to Francis, the state government's textbook policy allows parents to obtain prescribed books from external suppliers and reuse suitable textbooks previously purchased for older children.

The arrangement is intended to reduce recurring educational expenses, particularly for households with several school-age children.

However, Francis alleged that Orenda and Opal schools imposed restrictions requiring parents to purchase textbooks directly from the institutions.

He said some parents who obtained the prescribed books from independent bookshops were allegedly instructed to buy fresh copies from the schools or withdraw their children.

Such practices, if established, would contradict the stated objective of the government's policy by limiting parental choice and potentially increasing household education expenses.

For families already managing tuition fees, uniforms, transport and other school-related costs, compulsory textbook purchases can represent an additional financial burden.

The board maintained that private educational institutions must comply with applicable government regulations, irrespective of their internal commercial arrangements.

Pupils Allegedly Punished Over Parents' Purchasing Decisions

Beyond the textbook dispute, BEQAEB raised concerns about allegations that children were subjected to punitive treatment because their parents did not purchase learning materials directly from the schools.

Francis said some affected pupils had already paid their school fees but were allegedly denied normal academic attention when their prescribed textbooks were unavailable.

According to him, complaints included allegations that teachers refused to mark the homework of certain learners because their parents had not complied with the schools' textbook purchasing requirements.

He further alleged that the situation left some children demoralised and affected their classroom participation.

These claims have not been independently established, and the information provided does not include responses from the affected schools or individual accounts from the parents.

Nevertheless, the allegations raise an important child welfare issue.

Schoolchildren should not be subjected to humiliating or discriminatory treatment because of disagreements between their parents and school administrators over purchasing arrangements.

Educational discipline and assessment should be based on appropriate academic and behavioural standards rather than commercial disputes involving adults.

Board Says School Management Ignored Invitation

Francis disclosed that BEQAEB initially attempted to address the complaints through administrative engagement.

He said the board invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to discuss the allegations and resolve the matter.

According to him, the invitation was not honoured.

The executive secretary explained that the board subsequently approached a court through the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the premises.

Officials of the Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance then proceeded to enforce the order.

The board's account indicates that the closure followed a judicial process rather than an enforcement decision taken solely by its officials.

However, details of the court order, including the issuing court, the specific legal provisions relied upon and any conditions attached to the closure, were not provided.

These details would be important in assessing the legal scope of the enforcement action.

Proprietor Accused of Attacking Enforcement Officials

The enforcement exercise also generated allegations of confrontation between school representatives and BEQAEB officials.

Francis accused the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, of leading members of staff in an attack on the enforcement team after the court order was served.

He alleged that the incident involved verbal assaults and damage to an official vehicle belonging to the board.

The executive secretary condemned the alleged conduct, insisting that school proprietors must respect lawful judicial directives and pursue grievances through appropriate legal procedures.

The allegations of assault and property damage remain claims made by the board and have not been independently verified.

No police statement, arrest information or formal criminal charge was provided in the account.

Similarly, the proprietor's response to the allegations was not included.

Any determination of criminal responsibility would require an appropriate investigation and observance of due process.

Schools to Remain Closed Pending Compliance

Francis said Orenda and Opal schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators satisfied the board's requirements and demonstrated compliance with applicable education regulations.

The board did not specify the precise conditions for reopening or provide a timetable for reviewing the schools' compliance.

It also did not indicate how many pupils were affected by the closure.

These omissions raise practical questions about arrangements for children whose education may be interrupted.

While regulatory enforcement is necessary where schools violate lawful standards, the welfare and continuity of learning for affected pupils must remain central to the process.

Parents will need clear information about whether classes can resume, what corrective measures are required and how any disruption to academic activities will be addressed.

The board's next steps will therefore be important not only for ensuring compliance but also for protecting pupils from further educational disadvantage.

Textbook Policy Intended to Ease Pressure on Families

The controversy highlights the financial pressures associated with educating children, particularly in private institutions where parents often bear the full cost of tuition and learning materials.

Textbook reuse policies can help families reduce expenses by allowing younger siblings to use books already purchased, provided the materials remain suitable for the curriculum.

Allowing parents to purchase books from different suppliers may also encourage price competition and improve affordability.

However, effective implementation requires clear communication between education authorities, school administrators and parents.

Schools must understand the scope of their responsibilities, while parents should have access to accurate information about approved textbooks and applicable purchasing rules.

Regulators must also ensure that enforcement decisions are transparent, proportionate and consistent with the law.

The Benue dispute illustrates how disagreements over school commercial practices can develop into wider concerns about children's treatment and institutional accountability.

Parents Urged to Report Similar Practices

Francis encouraged parents and guardians who experience similar alleged violations to submit formal complaints to BEQAEB.

He advised complainants to provide supporting evidence to enable the board to investigate their claims.

According to him, the agency would examine reported violations and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

Such complaints may help regulators identify practices that impose unauthorised financial obligations on families or expose children to unfair treatment.

However, investigations must also provide accused institutions with an opportunity to respond and present their own evidence.

Transparent procedures are essential to protecting both learners' rights and the legal rights of school operators.

Protecting Pupils Must Remain the Priority

The sealing of Orenda and Opal schools represents a significant enforcement action by Benue's education authorities.

It also brings attention to the responsibilities of private schools operating within government-regulated education systems.

While proprietors may establish legitimate arrangements for supplying learning materials, those arrangements must comply with applicable laws and policies.

More importantly, disputes over textbook purchases should not result in children being excluded from normal academic activities or subjected to punitive treatment.

The unresolved questions include the schools' response to the allegations, the circumstances surrounding the reported confrontation, the conditions for reopening and arrangements for pupils affected by the closure.

As BEQAEB pursues compliance, the measure of success will be whether the concerns are fairly investigated, lawful standards are upheld and children can continue their education without discrimination or unnecessary disruption.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.