Terna Francis: BEQAEB operating within its legal mandate

BY HENRY IYORKASE, MAKURDI

The Benue State Executive Secretary Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board, Dr Terna Francis has asserted that activities establishing the parastatal were carried out within the provisions of the law, arguing that nothing was violated.

The Executive Secretary spoke with journalists on Friday in Makurdi.

He clarified that in recent times reforms were carried out as part of the enforcement measures to curtail the excesses in the public and private schools in the state.

The BEQAEB boss insisted hence that with the establishment of the Board all unwarranted levies being imposed by school proprietors in both public and private schools are being regulated.

He further explained that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s decision to strengthen Quality Assurance and separate it from the Ministry of Education was guided by the need for a more rigorous and independent mechanism for monitoring schools.

“Informed the enabling law empowered the Board to regulate visit inspect accredit and ensure the regulations were not violated any schools faulted with non-compliance would be sanctioned, all these are within powers of the Board.”

Dr. Francis highlighted the government’s investment in education, including the construction of new primary school structures, renovation of existing facilities, and the recruitment of over 9,000 teachers into basic education schools through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)

According to him, the education sector received over 15 percent of the state’s total budget in 2025, with a significant increase in the 2026 budget to 25.29 percent, describing this as a clear demonstration of the administration’s commitment to reform.

He explained that part of the reform agenda includes the enforcement of policies such as the re-use of textbooks, the prohibition of graduation ceremonies for non-certificate classes, as well as the ban on compulsory lessons for kindergarten and lower basic education learners.

On levies collectible by Board, the Executive Secretary referred to the Revenue Administration Law and the approved 2026 budget estimates, where revenues such as Quality Control, Workshop, Sports and ICT Development levies are clearly captured.

He explained that challenges despite ensuring to enforce the regulations there are bottleneck imploring his not bothered except the law establishing the examination board is implemented to the letter just as we have restored confidence in the educational sector in the State.

Dr. Francis also spoke on challenges inherited by the Board following the merger of agencies, including delays in the release of results and shortages of examination materials.

“To address this, and in line with our powers under the law, we introduced the e-Dossier system,” he said.

He explained that the e-Dossier replaces manual records and allows schools to upload Continuous Assessment and examination scores in real time, thereby eliminating manipulation, delays and human interference.

According to him, resistance to the e-Dossier system by some proprietors is linked to the operation of so-called miracle centres, where students migrate shortly before registering for external examinations. With the e-Dossier, continuous assessment records are tied to individual learners and their respective schools, and any movement is automatically flagged by the system.

This, he said, will effectively end miracle centres, as candidates from such centres will no longer be admitted for registration or examinations.

He added that BECE and Mock-SSCE examination results, which are conducted in the third term, will be released on time and used as the legal basis for promotion into SS1 and SS3, as required by regulation.

On examination fees, the BEQAEB boss cited the law and approved guidelines which empower the Board to determine and publish allowable charges for examinations and related levies.

Dr. Francis warned that schools are only permitted to collect approved fees, adding that the Governor has directed that handling charges must not exceed ₦5,000 in order to reduce the financial burden on parents.