Benue moves to rein in excessive private school fees

The Benue State Government has warned private school owners against imposing what it described as excessive and unauthorised fees on parents, saying it will no longer tolerate practices that worsen the financial burden on families.

The directive forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving standards and ensuring fairness in the education sector.

Dr. Terna Francis, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB), issued the warning while responding to criticism from the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), which accused the board of heavy-handed regulation.

Francis maintained that fee control is a legal requirement tied to the school approval process. He said schools must seek government clearance before adjusting fees to prevent arbitrary increases.

He criticised what he called glaring disparities in some private schools, where parents are charged as much as ₦300,000 per term while teachers reportedly earn as little as ₦30,000 monthly. According to him, such practices raise concerns about fairness and accountability.

The official said the move aligns with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s policy to ease the cost of education for parents. He added that BEQAEB’s mandate covers monitoring, accrediting and sanctioning schools that fail to meet approved standards.

Francis noted that resistance from some proprietors was expected but insisted that enforcement is backed by law. He explained that strengthening the board’s independence from the Ministry of Education was intended to improve oversight and accountability.

He highlighted ongoing government investments in the sector, including the construction and renovation of schools and the recruitment of over 9,000 teachers through the State Universal Basic Education Board. He added that education funding rose from over 15 per cent of the state budget in 2025 to 25.29 per cent in 2026.

As part of reforms, the state has introduced measures such as reusing textbooks, banning graduation ceremonies for non-certification classes, and prohibiting compulsory lessons for early-grade pupils.

Francis also cited cases of schools charging far above approved rates for external examinations, including ₦35,000 for the Basic Education Certificate Examination instead of ₦10,250, and up to ₦100,000 for WAEC instead of ₦27,500. He said such practices would be stopped.

To improve transparency, BEQAEB has deployed an electronic system that allows real-time upload of continuous assessment and exam scores, aimed at curbing result manipulation and so-called “miracle centres.”

He assured parents that the board would continue to enforce approved fees, limit handling charges, and ensure timely release of examination results, stressing the government’s commitment to protecting learners and restoring discipline in the state’s education system.