The Police on Tuesday took over the Benedictine Order Academy, Nyiman, Makurdi that was recently sealed over poor standards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bureau for Education Quality Assurance (BEQA) had, on Sept. 30, sealed the school for operating in an uncompleted hotel building.
The Director General (D-G) of the Bureau, Dr Terna Francis, said the school had no curriculum, lesson plan, scheme of work or qualified teachers.
He said the Benedictine Order Academy was not only a registered school, but was operating three schools within the uncompleted hotel building.
Francis said the government would not allow substandard schools to exist in the state “for the safety of the children and quality education”.
Speaking when the police took over the school, the D-G accused the founders of the school of instiagting the minors and parents to revolt.
Francis said the management of the school must show proof of improvement and officially communicate to the Bureau for onward assessment.
According to him, the school will remain sealed until they meet the minimum requirements.
The school proprietor, Mr Francis Akor, has, however said that the school is owned by three groups.
Akor listed the school owners to include Hyacinth Alia Support Group Foundation, Benedictine Order of Peace and Unity Academy Foundation, and Nigerian Peace Project.
“We started this school with the Hyacinth Alia Support Group Foundation in partnership with the Benedictine Monk, to train children from crisis-hit areas and less privileged young people.
“The school started at the Staff Development Centre, and our teachers were trained by the State Teaching Service Board.
“We were evicted without notice from the Staff Development Centre, and when we moved here, BEQA too didn’t give us any notice before sealing the school.
“The Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, unsealed the school yesterday (Monday) evening, only for the police to take over the school again on Tuesday,” he said.
He said the school had paid all the necessary fees required of them, to BEQA.
Also, a co-founder of the school, Rev. Fr. Elias Torugh, said they were working hard to meet the state educational requirements for operating a school.
Torugh, who is also the founder of the Benedictine Order of Peace and Unity Academy Foundation, said that the school, which has a nursery, primary, and secondary school, has a population of 942. (NAN).
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