Tuesday, September 8, 2026 -As some schools resume for a new academic session today, September 7, the Benue State government banned schools across the state from conducting compulsory extra lessons after regular school hours.
The State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge
Management, Margaret Adamu, handed the directive on Monday during a press
conference in Makurdi, the state capital. Adamu said any Parent-Teacher
Association (PTA) seeking to organise extra lessons must obtain approval from
the ministry.
She stressed that such lessons based on approval must not be
made compulsory for learners.
The commissioner further directed proprietors, principals
and heads of schools to ensure strict compliance with all education policies
and guidelines, warning that defaulters would face appropriate sanctions.
“There shall
be no lessons after regular school hours. Any PTA requesting extra lessons must
seek approval from the Ministry and must not make it compulsory,” the
commissioner said.
She also directed schools to use only approved main
textbooks for teaching, while prohibiting restricted or customised
non-transferable books.
Adamu also said that the cost of textbooks must not be
embedded in school fees, adding that parents remained free to purchase approved
books from schools or elsewhere.
She added that schools remained prohibited from holding
graduation ceremonies for learners in Early Childhood Care, Development and
Education (ECCDE), Lower Basic and Middle Basic classes, limiting such
ceremonies to exit classes such as Basic 9, SS3 and Technical 3.
The commissioner further warned schools against allowing
barbaric birthday celebrations in which learners manhandle celebrants, while
directing school authorities to enforce the ban on b#llying, intimidation,
harassment, hazing and all forms of violence among learners.
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