Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared a state of emergency on public schools in Edo State, citing their deteriorating conditions as a pressing concern.
During an inspection tour of schools in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas on Tuesday, the governor, accompanied by key government officials, expressed disappointment over the state of urban schools.
He stressed the need to provide students with a better learning environment to help them reach their full potential.
Reiterating his campaign promise to revamp the education sector, Okpebholo assured that immediate action would be taken to address infrastructural deficiencies in schools across the state.
At Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor, he expressed dissatisfaction with the poor conditions under which students were receiving their education.
“I am not pleased with what I have seen today. The condition of these schools is unacceptable. I made a commitment during my campaign to address these challenges, and that process begins now. Work will start immediately at Evbareke Secondary School and Army Day Secondary School,” the governor said.
He also pointed out major infrastructural issues such as the absence of perimeter fencing and severe erosion, which had made the road leading to Army Day Secondary School difficult to access.
“The road from Boundary Road to Temboga, which leads to Army Day Secondary School, is in a terrible state. This is affecting students’ ability to attend school, and we must take action,” he added.
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, explained that the governor’s visit aimed to assess the situation firsthand and ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, had access to quality education.
“The governor has directed us to prioritize the improvement of school infrastructure and teaching conditions. With his leadership, we are confident that Edo’s education system will experience significant progress,” Iyamu said.
Mary Izewingie, Vice Principal of Students’ Affairs at Evbareke Secondary School, informed the governor that despite multiple complaints, the school’s condition had remained unchanged since 2022.