By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Director General, Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency, BEQA, Terna Francis, has disclosed that very soon, private schools in the state would become very unattractive to parents following innovations by the present Governor Hyacinth Alia administration.
Speaking with journalists in Makurdi in an interview on the occasion to mark this year’s International Day of Education on the topic: ‘Educational reforms in Benue State’, the DG BEQA explained that the sorry state of education in the state prompted the Alia administration to embark on proactive measures to salvage the industry.
He recalled that on assumption of office considering the deplorable state of education particularly in the public schools, which made possible mass exodus of students to the private schools, a situation that made proprietors of such private schools become exploitative on parents, and noted that the situation made Governor Hyacinth Alia to establish the agency.
“The governor therefore, mandated the creation of an agency saddled with the responsibility of re- evaluating educational standards in the state” the BEQA DG explained, adding that the agency is also saddled with the re- certification of all institutions below tertiary level.
He further revealed that the recertification will include gathering data on matters relating to the curricular, learning environment, school management, quality of educators and motivation for both teachers and learners.
The DG BEQA said the agency has taken time to understudy the issues in the educational industry, including unwholesome practices engaged by some proprietors and managers of both public and private schools such as misappropriation of equipment and funds provided by government to public schools and exploitation of students, adding that government has established the agency and saddled it with the responsibility of re-evaluating educational standards in the state.