Government Seals Two Schools Over Alleged Forced Textbook Purchases
The Benue State Government has sealed Orenda and Opal Schools over alleged violations of its textbook policy and complaints that pupils were allegedly victimised for failing to purchase prescribed books directly from the schools.
The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) said the action followed petitions from parents and the failure of the schools’ proprietor and administrators to honour an invitation to address the complaints.
The board’s Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, led officials of its Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance to the schools, where a court order authorising the closure of the premises was served on the proprietor before the facilities were sealed.
According to a statement issued by the board’s Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam, on Thursday, the state government’s textbook policy allows parents to reuse books previously purchased for their older children.
The statement also noted that parents were permitted to obtain textbook lists from schools and purchase the required materials from bookstores outside the school premises.
However, the board alleged that the affected schools insisted that parents buy textbooks directly from them, contrary to the government’s policy.
Francis said the board had received reports that some pupils whose parents had paid their school fees but could not afford the prescribed textbooks were subjected to punitive treatment, including having their homework left unmarked.
The statement added that some parents who had already purchased the books from external vendors alleged that the schools refused to allow their children to use them during the current academic session.
According to the board, the parents were reportedly told to either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere.
It further alleged that pupils were prevented from bringing textbooks purchased outside the schools into their classrooms, leaving some of them demoralised.
Francis described the alleged practices as unacceptable and inconsistent with the protection of learners’ rights and welfare under applicable laws in Benue State and Nigeria.
He explained that the government’s policy was designed to give parents flexibility, encourage the reuse of textbooks where appropriate and prevent schools from imposing unnecessary restrictions that could undermine the interests of learners and their families.
The board said it had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to resolve the complaints, but they failed to attend.
It added that it subsequently approached the court through the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises.
The statement further alleged that the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, led members of staff in an attack on Francis and his team after the court order had been served.
According to the board, the incident involved verbal assaults on the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the agency.
The board condemned the reported incident, stressing that disputes with regulatory authorities should be addressed through lawful channels rather than violence or intimidation.
It said the schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators fulfilled the stipulated conditions, complied with government regulations and demonstrated a commitment to protecting the rights of pupils and their parents.
Francis urged parents and guardians whose children experienced similar alleged victimisation or violations of government education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB, supported by relevant evidence.
He assured the public that such complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law.