Benue seals Orenda and Opal Schools over textbook policy violations

The statement was issued by the board's Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam, on Thursday.

“the board’s Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam, on Thursday”

The government's policy allows parents to reuse textbooks previously purchased for older children.

“the government’s policy allows parents to reuse textbooks previously purchased for older children”

Parents are permitted to obtain textbook lists from schools and purchase the required books from bookstores outside the schools.

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

Some pupils whose parents had paid school fees but could not afford prescribed textbooks had their homework left unmarked.

“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”

Some parents who bought books from external vendors alleged the schools refused to allow their children to use them during the current academic session.

“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”

Parents were told to either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere.

“the parents were told to either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere”

Pupils were barred from bringing textbooks bought outside the schools into their classrooms.

“pupils were barred from bringing textbooks bought outside the schools into their classrooms”

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

“the board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to resolve the complaints, but they failed to attend”

The board approached the court through the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises.

“the board subsequently approached the court through the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises”

The proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, led members of staff in an attack on Francis and his team after the court order had been served.

“the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, led members of staff in an attack on Francis and his team after the court order had been served”

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

“the incident involved verbal assaults on the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the board”

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.

“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”

Parents and guardians whose children experience similar forms of alleged victimisation should submit formal petitions to BEQAEB, accompanied by relevant evidence.

“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”