By Osehobo Ofure, Benin City
Dissatisfied with the deplorable condition of public schools in Edo State, Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday declared a State of Emergency on Education, beginning with two schools in Benin City, the state capital.
The affected schools are Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor Local Government Area, both of which the governor visited for inspection.
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, Governor Okpebholo expressed deep displeasure over the dilapidated structures and poor learning environments at the two schools.
“I feel very bad about the condition of the schools I inspected today. Look at where our children are forced to learn—this is completely unacceptable,” the governor lamented.
“When I was campaigning, I promised Edo people that I would declare a State of Emergency in our schools. Today, I am starting with Evbareke Secondary School in Egor and Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha, both in Edo South.
“We even had to stop on the road because erosion had cut it off. This is unacceptable. Our children deserve the best,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo announced that rehabilitation work will begin immediately, noting that Evbareke Secondary School lacks a perimeter fence while the road leading to Army Day Secondary School, known as Boundary Road off Lucky Way, has been washed away by erosion.
“We must give Edo children quality education and a conducive learning environment to prepare them for the future,” he declared.
The Education Commissioner, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, explained that reports of the harsh learning conditions in these schools reached the Ministry, prompting the governor’s inspection.
“The governor came here himself to feel the plight of the average Edo child and to ensure that every child, including the physically challenged, has access to quality education,” Iyamu said.
According to him, “The governor is committed to practical governance. He has directed that we begin work immediately because Edo people deserve the best. The level of decay—dilapidated structures, lack of chairs, even in urban schools—is alarming. But with the kind of governor Edo has, things will change.”
Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Mrs. Omonzane Ebanehita, described the environment at Evbareke Secondary School as unfit for learning. She confirmed that the school management had written several letters detailing their plight, which she personally forwarded to the governor.
“We are grateful to the governor for coming himself to see things firsthand and to find lasting solutions,” she said.
Vice Principal (Students’ Affairs) of Evbareke Secondary School, Mrs. Mary Izewingie, recalled that since 2022, the school’s condition has remained the same.
“We have cried out several times, but no one listened. Learning here has been difficult for our students. At a point, we even attempted palliative measures ourselves, but the rains destroyed our efforts. We approached the previous administration, but they never responded,” she lamented.
Discussion about this post