Benue State announces free education for all public school pupils
Benue State Introduces Free Education for Public School Pupils
The Benue State Government has announced a new policy providing free education for students in government-owned public schools from Basic One to Basic Nine.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made the announcement on Friday during the inaugural Benue Basic Education Summit at the College of Health Sciences, Moses Orshio Adasu University in Makurdi.
In his remarks, Governor Alia emphasized that this initiative reflects his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every school-age child has access to education. He noted that the policy aims to assist low-income and vulnerable families while laying a solid educational foundation for the state’s future leaders.
The governor highlighted several measures already implemented in the education sector, including the recruitment of over 9,700 teachers, the timely payment of salaries, and the enforcement of a harmonized retirement age for educators.
Governor Alia urged parents, traditional leaders, religious figures, and other stakeholders to collaborate in enforcing compulsory basic education, stressing that the future of the state hinges on investments in its youth.
In a bid to address the issue of out-of-school children, the governor also launched a new initiative titled Building Rights to Access and Compulsory Education for Unenrolled Pupils (BRACE-UP). The project aims to engage community leaders, parents, and teachers in identifying out-of-school children, establishing flexible learning pathways, and tracking students from enrollment through to completion.
Governor Alia assured attendees of continued funding and policy support, aligning with the Universal Basic Education framework.
