Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared a state of emergency on public schools across the state after a recent visit to schools in Benin City. The announcement, made on March 25th, follows his inspection of Evbareke Secondary School in Egor and Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha.
Accompanied by the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, and the Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board, Sonia Ebanehita, Governor Okpebholo expressed alarm at the deplorable state of the schools, calling the conditions “unacceptable” and a barrier to quality education.
“I visited some public schools today, and what I saw was deeply troubling. The state of these schools is unacceptable. Our children deserve a learning environment that fosters excellence, not one that hinders their future,” Okpebholo said.
The governor’s visit revealed extensive infrastructural issues, including dilapidated classrooms, lack of basic amenities, and poor road access, with erosion severely affecting routes to some schools. Students at Evbareke Secondary School shared their daily struggles, highlighting sanitation challenges and the poor condition of their learning materials.
“Some mornings, we come to school and have to clean excreta in our classrooms. Our books are sometimes soaked, making it hard to learn,” a student from Evbareke Secondary School revealed.
The Vice Principal of Evbareke Secondary School pointed to areas of the building missing roofs, adding, “The roof has been like this for a long time. Recently, the principal had to make arrangements to cover part of the building.”
Governor Okpebholo, visibly disturbed by the conditions, noted that some schools lacked even basic infrastructure such as fencing, and access roads were often blocked by erosion. “We had to stop on the road when we arrived at the first school because there was no road. This is not acceptable,” he emphasized.
The governor made it clear that his administration would act swiftly to address these issues, stressing that the state of education in Edo must improve. “When I campaigned, I promised that I would declare a state of emergency in public schools. Today, we begin work, starting with the schools I visited,” Okpebholo added.
Dr. Paddy Iyamu, the state Commissioner for Education, reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to ensuring all Edo children have access to quality education. “The governor is passionate about ensuring that every child in Edo has access to good infrastructure and qualified teachers,” he said.
Sonia Ebanehita, Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board, also expressed concern over the learning environment, stating, “The situation here is not conducive for students. Immediate intervention is necessary.”
In response to the governor’s visit, students expressed renewed hope, thanking the governor for his commitment to improving their schools. “We are happy the governor came to see for himself. His visit has given us hope that things will change,” a student from Army Day Secondary School remarked.
Governor Okpebholo concluded by promising immediate action to overhaul the affected schools. “Education is the foundation of any great society, and we will not fail our children. Work begins immediately to improve these schools, secure them with perimeter fencing, and repair access roads,” he affirmed.
