Benue Government Closes Schools for Violating Textbook Policy

The Benue State Government sealed Orenda and Opal Schools due to alleged violations of its textbook policy. The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board acted on petitions from parents who reported that pupils were victimized for not purchasing prescribed textbooks directly from the schools.

Dr Terna Francis, the board's Executive Secretary, led the enforcement team that served a court order to the school proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, before sealing the premises. The board's policy allows parents to reuse textbooks and purchase them from external bookstores, but the schools allegedly insisted on direct purchases.

Reports indicated that some pupils faced punitive measures, such as unmarked homework, if their parents could not afford the prescribed books. Additionally, parents who bought books externally were reportedly denied the right to use them in class.

The board had previously invited the school administrators to address these issues, but they failed to attend. Following this, the board sought legal action to seal the schools.