₦airaland Forum

Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has introduced far-reaching reforms in the state’s education sector to protect parents, reduce exploitative practices, and make learning more accessible for children.

Under the new policy framework, schools are directed to abolish the use of customized exercise and textbooks that restrict transfer to other learners, thereby restoring the traditional practice where senior students can pass down books to their juniors. The Governor also ordered the discontinuation of compulsory after-school lessons, except where parents give consent, as well as the abolition of mandatory graduation ceremonies
for kindergarten, nursery, and basic schools.

These reforms, to be implemented from the first term of the 2025/2026 academic session, are designed to relieve parents of unnecessary financial burdens while ensuring that education remains people-focused and affordable.

To ensure smooth implementation, a consultative meeting with school proprietors, Parent-Teacher Associations, and other education stakeholders has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Governor Alia has assured that his administration will continue to prioritize policies that uplift families and guarantee quality education for every child in Benue State.

Lol…these private schools too overdo…I no pity them at all

Long overdue. This rubbish must stop.

I inherited uniforms, textbooks and even sometimes old notes from my elder brother.

And I enjoyed it. Cos dude was more serious than I. His books were nearly laminated.

Why should a parent have same textbooks from older siblings but cannot give it to the younger ones cos the school have a stupid policy of always buying new. So what do I do with the ones I don't need at home?

Na that one dey vex me pass with private schools. Party own I no send.

And yes. Some extra lessons are too much. My child should leave that school by 2pm. Let them go and play small.

We closed by 2pm and we turned out great.

Publishers and Bookshop owners won't like this but it is a step in the right direction. I mean how do I buy a Text Book that expires in just One Academic Session because the Work book and some Assignments are included in the same Book?

Also, Private Schools won't like this because they make a fortune from making Parents buy Books every session. No child can pass on a Text Book to another sibling even with as little as one or two years gap.

A Good Call if you ask me.

Thank God for Imo state government who took the first stem to cob this illegality.

These same things should be implemented in Federal Schools....both Unity Schools and Universities....

Not just State or Local Schools....

Good, why should parents buy the same textbooks for their kids going to a new class when their older siblings just finished using the same books, that is a big fraud. Wish Wike can do the same in Abuja

AmenableSon:
Just like Edo State government did. That’s very good. The way private schools extort parents all the name of graduation party is alarming.

which one is Addo government?

Can you check well please?

Nice one. Way to go. Private schools are now more of business centers than academic environments

Noted.

Valas Morghulis: All men must die

Definitely

Nice one, they learnt what could impoverish the poor the more. They should ban even secondary schools graduation parties, it add nothing to the society rather it takes away. They also enforce the ban of non transferable textbooks policies in other states

how is this even going to work? there are just too many things that can go wrong, the governor didn't really think through it before promulgating this policy

This is a welcome development sir. I hope all governors should follow suit.

hassinho707:
which one is Addo government?

Can you check well please?

Check your quote. I have corrected myself before you quote me.

This is so commendable, other governors too should take a leave.

Good one from Benue state. I think federal government should make it national policy on education.

E be like say na wetin them discuss for WhatsApp meeting be this.
Abeg, make una discuss, rising poverty, insecurities and bad governance

Good policy though, I commend this

Way to go sha. Small policies like this will bring small small ease. It doesn't take years to take things to turn around

That text book own have been my biggest worry..I had the intention to mention it at the next PTA meeting. Those textbooks cost a whole lot,why can't younger siblings use them. They now turn text books to note books where they do markings and assignments.

MistyDense:
Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has introduced far-reaching reforms in the state’s education sector to protect parents, reduce exploitative practices, and make learning more accessible for children.

Under the new policy framework, schools are directed to abolish the use of customized exercise and textbooks that restrict transfer to other learners, thereby restoring the traditional practice where senior students can pass down books to their juniors. The Governor also ordered the discontinuation of compulsory after-school lessons, except where parents give consent, as well as the abolition of mandatory graduation ceremonies
for kindergarten, nursery, and basic schools.

These reforms, to be implemented from the first term of the 2025/2026 academic session, are designed to relieve parents of unnecessary financial burdens while ensuring that education remains people-focused and affordable.

To ensure smooth implementation, a consultative meeting with school proprietors, Parent-Teacher Associations, and other education stakeholders has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Governor Alia has assured that his administration will continue to prioritize policies that uplift families and guarantee quality education for every child in Benue State.

Good one. It is high time private school unnecessary extortions stopped. Like Edo like Benue🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

This news gave me a whole lot of joy yesterday when I saw the development.
Thanks to Alia.

Good one!
Let other governors adopt and implement it

Good step.

Why is it that things such as police, health insurance, democracy etc that work in other countries, get to make country, and become a weapon for wickedness and oppression?

Education is important to the country and attempt must be made to make it affordable at all levels.

As it should be..the private schools are deviating from school ethics gradually

Thank you Sir for these great developments. Parent are shortchanged by school proprietor. We pay PTA fee nobody is doing PTA meeting. Owner of school just stealing all the contributions.

Nice one. I hope other states would adopt same. These criminals masquerading as private school owners are just robbing Nigerian parents.

IBB007:
Lol…these private schools too overdo…I no pity them at all

The law can't stand,send your kids to govt schools simple.......there is a limit that govt can control private businesses.

This is very encouraging and deserves commendation. It will offer relief to parents and alleviate the financial burden of high school fees and demands they face. Other states should consider replicating this model. For me, this is 10 out of 10 for this state government.

Nice one.

Parents can now buy notebooks of their choice and children can use their older siblings' textbooks.

Pravedk:
Long overdue. This rubbish must stop.

I inherited uniforms, textbooks and even sometimes old notes from my elder brother.

And I enjoyed it. Cos dude was more serious than I. His books were nearly laminated.

Why should a parent have same textbooks from older siblings but cannot give it to the younger ones cos the school have a stupid policy of always buying new. So what do I do with the ones I don't need at home?

Na that one dey vex me pass with private schools. Party own I no send.

And yes. Some extra lessons are too much. My child should leave that school by 2pm. Let them go and play small.

We closed by 2pm and we turned out great.

Then expect prices of books to double and fees to go up,cheaper schools will have depleted standards or better still send your kids to the schools govt built, simple!!