The Benue State Government has identified over 4,000 substandard and unauthorized schools operating across various local government areas of the state.
Kula Tersoo, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, made the disclosure while speaking to journalists in Makurdi.
He explained that most of the schools lacked proper infrastructure and employed unqualified teachers, making them unsuitable for education.
“The government has uncovered more than 4,000 schools that are not conducive for learning and are staffed with untrained personnel,” Tersoo revealed.
As part of efforts to overhaul the education sector, he noted that over 9,700 competent teachers have been newly employed to work in primary schools throughout the state.
He further stated that Governor Alia’s administration is deeply committed to advancing quality education and supporting students’ academic growth.
“We have also taken care of examination fees for nearly 19,000 students who wrote WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB in the 2023/2024 academic year,” he said.
Tersoo also confirmed that the government has paid all outstanding salary arrears and allowances owed to staff of the state-owned Moses Adasu University (formerly Benue State University).
“For example, 38 months of owed earned allowances to university staff have now been settled,” he added.