The Benue commissioner for education, Elizabeth Ugo, announced on Monday that the state government had closed down three colleges of education for poor staffing and infrastructure.
Ugo made the announcement in Makurdi at a news conference on the activities of the ministry.
She named the colleges as Emmanuel Ebije Ikwe College of Education, Otukpa, Ityiav-Gar College of Education, Mkar and Malamin College of Education, Gboko.
The commissioner regretted that the schools were being managed solely for commercial gain.
Ugo said that the standard of the colleges had fallen below the expectations of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, NCCE.
She added that the closure of the schools was to ensure that tertiary institutions in the state complied with the minimum requirements of the NCCE.
Ugo, however, disclosed that the commission granted approval to seven other Colleges of Education at Oju, Katsina-Ala, Aidogodo, Otukpo, Adoka, Naka and Luga.
She said that provisional approval was given to two colleges of education at Lessel and Aliade in the Ushongo and Gwer Local Government Areas of the state.
The commissioner said that the ministry was determined to deal with examination malpractices to restore the fallen standard of education in the state.
She said that the ministry was also collaborating with law enforcement agencies to deal with the malpractices.
Ugo warned that examination centres involved in examination malpractices would be dealt with.
She said that a committee had been inaugurated to oversee the conduct of examinations in the state and to ensure compliance with policies of government.
The commissioner said that the state government had provided infrastructure in several schools to create conducive environment for both teaching and learning.