Benue Seals Two Schools Over 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 victimised for failing to buy prescribed books directly from the schools.

The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board said the action followed petitions from parents and the failure of the school 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 sealing of the premises was served on the proprietor before the facilities were locked.

According to a statement issued by the board’s Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam, on Thursday, the government’s policy allows parents to reuse textbooks previously purchased for older children.

“Parents are also permitted to obtain textbook lists from schools and purchase the required books from bookstores outside the schools,” the statement added.

However, the board alleged that the affected schools insisted that parents purchase textbooks directly from them, contrary to the policy.

Francis said the board 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 bought 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 told to either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere.

It further alleged that pupils were barred from bringing textbooks bought outside the schools into their classrooms, leaving some of them demoralised.

“Dr 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 intended to provide flexibility for parents, promote the reuse of textbooks where appropriate and prevent schools from imposing unnecessary restrictions that undermine the interests of learners and their families,” the statement said.

He said the board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to resolve the complaints, but they failed to attend.

According to the statement, the board subsequently approached the court through the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises.

It also 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.

The statement said the incident involved verbal assaults on the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the board.

The board condemned the reported incident, saying disputes with regulatory authorities should be resolved through lawful channels rather than violence or intimidation.

It said the schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators met its conditions, complied with government regulations and demonstrated a commitment to protecting the rights of pupils and parents.

“He urged parents and guardians whose children experience similar forms of alleged victimisation or violations of government education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB, accompanied by relevant evidence.

“He assured the public that such complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law,” the statement said.