NIGERIA: Benue State Bans Compulsory Extra Lessons After School Hours
By OUR REPORTER
“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.
The Benue State Government has banned schools across the state from conducting compulsory extra lessons after regular school hours as students resume for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Mrs Margaret Adamu, announced the directive on Monday during a press conference in Makurdi.
Adamu said any Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) seeking to organise extra lessons must first obtain approval from the Ministry of Education.
She, however, stressed that even when approved, such lessons must not be made compulsory for learners.
“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.
The commissioner directed proprietors, principals and heads of schools to strictly comply with existing education policies and guidelines, warning that violators would face appropriate sanctions.
She also instructed schools to use only approved main textbooks for teaching and prohibited the use of restricted or customised non-transferable textbooks.
According to her, the cost of textbooks must not be included in school fees, noting that parents should be free to purchase approved textbooks either from the schools or other sources.
On graduation ceremonies, Adamu said schools were prohibited from organising graduation ceremonies for pupils in Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE), Lower Basic and Middle Basic classes.
She said graduation ceremonies should be restricted to recognised exit classes, including Basic 9, Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) and Technical 3.
The commissioner further warned schools against allowing what she described as “barbaric” birthday celebrations involving the manhandling of celebrants.
She directed school authorities to enforce the prohibition of bullying, intimidation, harassment, hazing and all forms of violence among learners.
