Benue govt threatens to shut down more illegal private schools over non compliance with set standards

From Gabriel Agbo, Makurdi 

Benue State Government has threatened to shut down more private schools considered to be illegal due to non-compliance was set standards.

The government had in the past lamented the proliferation of such schools and shutdown over 2000 earlier that failed to meet the approval standards.

Speaking with journalists shortly after a meeting with principals and school administrators in Makurdi, the Executive Secretary, Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examination Board(BEQAEB), Dr. Terna Francis disclosed  that the process of closing such schools will soon resume by the board.

He revealed that staff of the board  has been going out to identify all those illegal and mushroom schools resulting to the closed down of over 2000 substandard schools.

Dr. Francis however threatened court action against those illegal and mushroom schools, saying that section 7 of the law establishing Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examination Board, BEQAEB has empowered him to close down such schools.

"We have shut down over 2000 illegal and mushroom schools across the state in the past, and we will soon embark on such exercise. 

"We will take all those illegal operators whom their schools were closed down but went Ahead to reopened them.

"Again, we have declared zero tolerance for illegal charges and levies in both public and private schools in the State. And so, Principals and all Administrators are warned  to desist from collecting any unauthorised fees from learners.

"Also, section 18 of the Law establishing BEQAEB makes it compulsory for every student in Benue State to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and Mock SSCE where applicable.

"Therefore, no student shall be cleared to sit for any external examination without participating in the Mock SSCE. Gone are the days when Principals deliberately refuse to register candidates for MOCK with the intention of bribing their way to be cleared through the back door.

BECE remains the first school leaving certificate, and it is illegal for anyone to issue certificates after Primary Six.

The law will be fully and fearlessly enforced.

"Our enforcement unit has been empowered to ensure total compliance, and violators will face sanctions without exception. Please get yourselves acquainted with the law", Dr. Terna said.