From Msurshima Andrew, Makurdi
The Benue State Government on Monday sealed Benedictine Order Academy Nyiman in the State Capital over failing to meet approved standards.
The Director General (DG), Bureau for Education Quality Assurance (BEQA), Dr Terna Francis while sealing the school said the school was operating in an uncompleted hotel building.
Francis said the school has no curriculum, lesson plan, scheme of work, qualified teachers and was operating three different schools within the uncompleted building.
He said the Benedictine Order Academy Nyiman was not a registered school and the Government does not approved its existence.
He said the Government would not allow any sub-standard school to exist in the State for the safety of the children and quality education.
He said they have identified 2,416 illegal schools in the State and have already issued all the necessary notices to the proprietors to either meet the required standard or shut down.
Also the General Manager, Benue Urban Development Board, Town Planner Ternongo Mede said the uncompleted three story building was not habitable for a learning environment.
Mede said every building must pass fitness test of the desired purpose and urged the Government to seal the school.
However, the Founder, Benedictine Order of Peace and Unity Academy Foundation, Rev Fr Elias Torugh said they were working hard to meet the State educational requirements for operating a school.
Torugh said they were in the story building for only two weeks following their eviction at Staff Development Centre by the State Government.
He said they were fully aware that the school does not have a conducive learning environment but they planned to stay at the uncompleted hotel building for only this term.
He claimed that they were members of the Catholic Church and the school was owned by the Benedictine Order which he said were not associated to any Catholic Diocese in the Country.
Torugh further said that the school which has nursery, primary and secondary school has 942 population.
