The Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency (BEQA) has disclosed that out of the over 6,000 private schools operating in the state, only 150 were registered.
The agency described the development as worrisome, lamenting the alarming issue of schools failing to renew their registrations with the Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) for years.
Director General of BEQA, Dr. Terna Francis, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a meeting with the General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede and the BIRS Chairman, Emmanuel Agema, with critical stakeholders at the BEQA headquarters in view of the planned closure of schools and demolition of substandard structures.
Francis said the meeting was another vital step in his continuous commitment to improving educational standards in the state and engaging with educational stakeholders.
He also condemned the state of dilapidated school structures, deeming them unfit for conducive learning.
“From September, all school buildings must undergo integrity tests, and only those that meet the required standards will be permitted to operate,” he added.
The BEQA DG also announced that the Mock SSCE would be mandatory for all students registering for WAEC, NECO and NAPTEB in 2025 and that beginning from September, schools would be required to implement e-dossiers with each school obtaining a PIN for students to login and see their results, adding that the dashboard would be closely monitored at BEQA headquarters.
In their separate remarks, Hon. SA Ojo, Chairman of NAPPS, Rev. Fr. Peter Apagher, Director of Catholic Education Services, and Hajia. Zainab Adamu Usman, representing Jama’atu Nasril Islam schools all expressed their support for the enforcement of the closure of unapproved schools.
