Benue Govt earmarks 2,100 Illegal Schools for demolition

From Attah Ede Makurdi

The Benue State Urban Development Board, BSUDB, in collaboration with State Bureau for Education Quality Assurance, BEQA, have earmarked 2100 unapproved, illegal and substandard primary and post primary schools for demolition starting from August.

The director general, BEQA, Terna Francis stated that the UPC demolition would be the first phase of clampdown on illegal operations of educational institutions in the state.

He disclosed this during the Speech and Prize Giving Day at Templegate Academy held in Makurdi.

While making a symbolic presentation of results to the learners transiting from Basic 6 to 7, he said that school owners should stop stressing parents in the name of graduation as Primary 6 was no longer a certificate class.

According to him, the first phase would principally affect unaccredited schools.

He added schools that have obtained their recertification forms and completed the necessary processes to come for collection of their certificates of consent, which now stands as formal approval.

He expressed appreciation to parents for their commitment to providing quality education for their children and commended the school for its efforts.

The DG noted that during his routine unscheduled visits, he observed that academic records of the school were generally satisfactory.

He urged pupils to remain focused on achieving academic excellence and advised owners of schools to avoid imposing unnecessary levies on parents.

He equally used the opportunity to enlighten the public about the 9-3-4 education system adopted by Benue State in alignment with the Federal Ministry of Education’s policy.

“Learners will now transit from Basic 6 to Basic 7, and by the end of Basic 9, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be issued which will serve as the First School Leaving Certificate.

The head of Templegate Academy, Isaiah Terna Hindan, expressed gratitude to the BEQA DG for honouring the school and thanked him also for donating 30 copies of Civic Education and National Values text books to be awarded to learners.