In a decisive move to uphold educational integrity, the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has sealed two schools in Makurdi—Orenda and Opal schools—due to complaints of victimization against students and coercive practices regarding textbook purchases.

The Executive Secretary of BEQAEB, Dr. Terna Francis, led the enforcement team that executed the closure after receiving numerous complaints from parents. According to Dr. Francis, the schools allegedly mandated parents to buy exercise and test books exclusively from them, hindering access to education for those who did not comply, despite having already paid school fees.

Dr. Francis explained that the schools' practices contravened the state government's textbook reuse policy, which permits parents to either reuse textbooks from older siblings or purchase them from alternative sources. "We received several complaints from parents about the victimization of their children in these schools. The schools insisted that learners and their parents must buy exercise books and test books from the schools before they would be attended to," he stated.

Prior to the closure, BEQAEB had attempted to resolve the issue amicably by contacting the school proprietor via phone, urging them to cease the alleged victimization. However, when complaints persisted, the board escalated the matter by issuing an official letter and inviting the school's management and the Parent-Teacher Association chairman to a meeting. Unfortunately, the proprietor failed to attend these meetings, prompting further action from the board.

Reports indicated that the alleged coercive practices not only affected students' access to education but also their overall morale. Some teachers reportedly refused to mark assignments for students who had not purchased the designated books, and others prevented students from bringing their own materials to class. Dr. Francis noted that such actions were detrimental to the students' academic performance and violated child protection laws in both Benue State and Nigeria at large.

The enforcement action culminated in a court order, obtained in collaboration with the state Attorney-General, which authorized the sealing of the two schools. The court order was duly served to the school proprietor before BEQAEB officials locked the premises. The schools will remain closed until the management demonstrates compliance with government policies and respects the rights of students and parents.

Dr. Francis emphasized that this enforcement action serves as a warning to other private educational institutions in the state. He urged parents experiencing similar issues in other schools to report their grievances to BEQAEB, along with any supporting evidence. "We want to warn that if there is a breach in any school at all by any administrator or proprietor, we are going to clamp down on the school aggressively," he added, reinforcing the board's commitment to protecting students' rights and ensuring fair educational practices.