From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, declared a State of Emergency on public schools across the state owing to their dilapidated condition.
Accompanied on an inspection tour of some schools in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor Local Governments Areas of Edo South Senatorial District, the governor lamented the sorry state of facilities in the schools located in urban areas.
He expressed displeasure over the state of the schools visited and said “Edo children deserve a better schooling environment that will bring out the best in them”.
He recalled that while campaigning for the votes of the electorate in the State, he promised to declare a State of Emergency on schools across Edo State that lack modern facilities and conducive environment for learning.
He said after visiting Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor Local Government Area, he was not pleased with what he saw and had no choice but to begin his action from the schools.
“From tomorrow (today), work will commence here as the school visited has no fence, and the road leading to Army Day Secondary School has been washed off by erosion. We must give Edo children quality education to set them for the future.
“The road leading to Army Day Secondary School is known as Boundary Road, off Lucky Way. The road leads to Temboga,” he said.
The Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, said information got to the Ministry on the harsh conditions facing students of the school.
He said the governor is visiting schools to see things for himself because he wants to feel the plight of the students and ensure that every Edo child has access to good structure and teachers in their schools.
“The governor is here this morning to see for himself because he wants to feel the plight of the students or the average Edo child so that together we can all proffer solutions to the problem facing Edo schools. The governor is here on practical governance to show Edo people they deserve the best.
“The governor has given us the order to ensure that everybody in Edo State must have access to quality education whether they are able or physically challenged. The challenges are very obvious; dilapidated structures, with no chairs, in schools in urban areas. With the kind of governor Edo has, things will change,” Iyamu said.
Chairman of State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Omonzane Ebanehita, said Evbareke secondary School does not have a conducive environment for learning.
She recalled that the management of the school wrote several letters, which she earlier forwarded to the Governor and appreciated him for visiting the school to find lasting solutions to the problems.
Vice Principal, Students’ Affairs, Evbareke Secondary School, Mrs. Mary Izewingie, said since 2022, the situation of the school has remained the same.
“We have cried out several times, nobody listened to us, and learning has been difficult for our students. We even did palliative ourselves, but the rains destroyed our efforts. We approached the Obaseki-led administration. They never responded.”