Benue Bans Compulsory Extra Lessons, School Phone Use and Unauthorised Access
The Benue State Government has introduced a new set of rules for schools as pupils and students return for the 2026/2027 academic session, including a ban on compulsory extra lessons after regular school hours and restrictions on mobile-phone use during school periods.
The government has also prohibited unauthorised access to schools by individuals, non-governmental organisations and other external groups.
The new measures were announced as schools resumed across the state.
Authorities said the rules are intended to improve discipline, protect learners and reduce unnecessary financial pressure on parents.
The state government has also moved against practices involving compulsory purchases and activities that it believes place additional burdens on families.
The announcement has generated interest because some of the measures affect everyday practices in Nigerian schools.
Extra lessons are common in many schools.
Mobile phones are increasingly common among students.
External organisations frequently seek access to schools for programmes and activities.
The government is now seeking tighter control over these areas.
Why extra lessons are being restricted
Compulsory extra lessons can create financial pressure for parents.
A family may already be paying school fees, buying uniforms, books, shoes, transport and other materials.
When schools require additional paid lessons, household expenses increase.
For families with several children, the cumulative cost can be substantial.
The Benue government has therefore decided that extra lessons after normal school hours should not be compulsory.
The policy does not necessarily mean that academic support is forbidden.
Schools can still provide appropriate academic assistance within approved structures.
The central issue is compulsion.
The difference between academic support and compulsory payment
Students sometimes need additional help.
A child may struggle with mathematics.
Another may need assistance with reading.
Another may require support preparing for an examination.
Extra academic support can therefore be beneficial.
The concern arises when such lessons become mandatory and require additional payments.
Parents who cannot afford them may feel disadvantaged.
Students may also feel excluded.
A good education system should ensure that essential academic instruction takes place during official school hours.
Financial pressure on families
Education costs have become an important concern for Nigerian households.
Even when tuition is relatively low, parents may face numerous additional expenses.
Transport costs can rise.
Food prices affect school lunch.
Uniforms and shoes must be replaced.
Textbooks and learning materials cost money.
Parents may also pay for examination fees and extracurricular activities.
Removing unnecessary compulsory expenses can therefore provide relief.
Mobile phones in schools
The state has also introduced restrictions on mobile-phone possession or use during school hours.
The debate over phones in schools is not unique to Nigeria.
Mobile devices can support education.
Students can use them to access information.
They can use educational applications.
Teachers can use digital tools.
However, phones can also distract students.
Social media can compete with classroom attention.
Students can record teachers or classmates without permission.
Cyberbullying can occur.
Phones can also create opportunities for cheating during examinations.
Why schools want greater control
School administrators need to maintain an environment where students can concentrate.
If students spend significant amounts of time checking messages or social media, classroom engagement can decline.
Teachers may also find it difficult to enforce discipline.
A clear policy can therefore help schools establish expectations.
But implementation must be balanced.
Some students may legitimately need access to phones for emergencies.
Parents may need to communicate with children.
Students with special circumstances may require devices.
Schools therefore need sensible procedures rather than simply confiscating devices without accountability.
Unauthorised access to schools
The government has also prohibited unauthorised access to public and private schools by external individuals and organisations.
This measure has a clear security dimension.
Schools are places where children spend significant parts of their day.
Administrators need to know who enters the premises.
Uncontrolled access can create risks.
A stranger could enter the school.
An unauthorised organisation could conduct activities without proper supervision.
Individuals could attempt to recruit or influence students.
Tight access control can therefore strengthen school safety.
School security in Nigeria
Security has become increasingly important for Nigerian schools.
The country has experienced incidents involving attacks on educational institutions and kidnapping of students.
This has made parents more concerned about school safety.
Governments have introduced various school-protection measures.
The Benue policy adds another layer by controlling external access.
The role of teachers
Teachers will play a major role in implementing the new rules.
They need to understand what is permitted.
They need to communicate expectations to students.
They must also enforce rules fairly.
If one group of students is punished while another is allowed to break the rules, confidence can decline.
School management therefore needs clear guidelines.
The role of parents
Parents also need to understand the policy.
They should know when students are allowed to use phones.
They should know how emergency communication will work.
They should understand which school payments are permitted.
Parents can also report violations.
However, reporting systems should be designed carefully.
Parents should not be encouraged to confront teachers or school administrators aggressively.
There should be formal channels for complaints.
Private schools
The policy applies to schools across the state, including private institutions in relevant areas.
Private schools sometimes operate additional programmes outside regular hours.
Some parents choose private schools because they expect additional academic support.
The government will therefore need to clarify precisely how the ban interacts with legitimate optional programmes.
If extra lessons are voluntary and properly regulated, they may require different treatment from compulsory paid lessons.
The question of academic performance
One concern that could arise is whether restricting extra lessons could affect examination performance.
Some parents believe additional lessons are necessary for students preparing for major examinations.
The solution should not necessarily be compulsory after-hours classes.
Schools can improve teaching quality during official hours.
Teachers can provide structured revision.
Students can receive approved support programmes.
The curriculum can be strengthened.
The objective should be to make regular classroom instruction effective enough that students do not need compulsory additional teaching simply to keep up.
The problem of overloaded students
Children also need time outside school.
After a full school day, students may need to rest.
They may have household responsibilities.
They may need time to read independently.
They may need physical activity.
They may spend time with family.
Excessive academic demands can create stress.
Therefore, eliminating unnecessary compulsory lessons could also improve students' wellbeing.
Bullying and school discipline
The new school rules also place emphasis on discipline and student protection.
Bullying can have serious consequences.
Victims may become afraid of attending school.
Their academic performance may suffer.
Some students may experience emotional distress.
Schools therefore need strong anti-bullying policies.
But discipline must be proportionate.
Students should be treated fairly.
Graduation ceremonies
The state has also restricted graduation ceremonies for non-exit classes.
This reflects concerns about unnecessary school expenses and activities.
Graduation ceremonies can be meaningful.
They can celebrate academic progress.
But they can also create financial demands.
Parents may be asked to buy special clothes.
They may be required to pay event fees.
They may face photography expenses.
The government appears to be seeking to prevent such costs from becoming compulsory.
Customised textbooks
Another related concern is the use of customised or non-transferable textbooks.
When books can only be used by one child or cannot be transferred to younger siblings, families may face higher costs.
Reusable textbooks can reduce household expenses.
However, schools also need to ensure that learning materials are appropriate and updated.
The policy therefore needs to balance affordability with educational quality.
Protecting the right to education
The broader principle behind the new measures is access.
Education should not become unnecessarily expensive.
When costs rise, poorer families can be disproportionately affected.
Some may withdraw children from school.
Others may delay enrolment.
Reducing avoidable expenses can therefore support school attendance.
Digital learning
The phone policy creates an interesting challenge because technology is increasingly part of education.
Students need digital skills.
Schools may use online resources.
Teachers may use electronic materials.
The government must therefore ensure that restricting personal phone use does not prevent appropriate digital learning.
Schools can provide controlled devices or approved digital platforms where necessary.
Cybersecurity and student safety
Mobile phones can also expose children to online risks.
Students may encounter inappropriate content.
They may become targets of scams.
They may participate in cyberbullying.
They may share personal information.
Schools have a role in teaching digital safety.
A phone restriction should therefore be accompanied by digital literacy.
Emergency communication
Parents may worry about what happens when a child needs to contact them during the school day.
Schools can establish official communication channels.
Parents can contact school offices.
Teachers or administrators can manage emergencies.
Students can be allowed access under supervised circumstances.
Clear procedures will prevent confusion.
The importance of implementation
A policy can look good on paper but fail during implementation.
The government will need monitoring mechanisms.
Education officials may need to visit schools.
Schools should have channels for clarification.
Parents should know where to report violations.
Students should understand their rights.
Avoiding excessive punishment
Rules should not become an excuse for harsh treatment.
A student who brings a phone to school should not automatically face extreme punishment.
Discipline should be educational.
The objective should be to teach responsibility.
Similarly, teachers who violate the rules should face appropriate administrative procedures rather than arbitrary punishment.
The economic dimension
Education policy is closely connected to household finances.
A family that saves money on unnecessary school charges can use those resources for food, healthcare or other educational needs.
At the same time, schools need adequate funding.
If compulsory extra lessons are removed, government and school authorities must ensure teachers are properly supported.
Otherwise, schools may struggle to provide quality education.
Teachers and workload
If schools are expected to provide better academic support during regular hours, teachers may require additional resources.
Class sizes may need to be manageable.
Teaching materials must be available.
Professional development can help.
Teachers should also have sufficient preparation time.
Educational quality cannot depend solely on regulation.
The long-term goal
The ultimate goal should be a school system where students receive quality education during approved school hours.
Parents should know what they are paying for.
Schools should operate safely.
Students should be protected.
Teachers should be supported.
External organisations should work through approved channels.
Such a system can improve trust between families and schools.
By Iroyin Yoruba Television Education Desk