Governor Okpebholo declares state of emergency on Edo public schools

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared a State of Emergency on public schools across the state, citing their poor condition.

The Governor made the announcement following an inspection of schools in the Ikpoba-Okha and Egor Local Government Areas of Edo South Senatorial District. He expressed concern over the poor state of facilities in schools, particularly those located in urban areas.

In a statement issued by Fred Itua, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, on Tuesday, Governor Okpebholo said that the children of Edo deserve better schools that will help them reach their full potential.

While campaigning for votes, the Governor had promised to take action on schools lacking modern facilities and a good learning environment. He made good on that promise by visiting Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor. After seeing the conditions of the schools, he expressed his dissatisfaction and stated that immediate action would be taken to address the issues.

“I am very disappointed with what I saw today. The state of the schools is unacceptable. Our children deserve better,” the Governor said. “I promised during my campaign that I would declare a State of Emergency in our schools. I am starting with these two schools today, and we will work to improve conditions immediately.”

He further noted that erosion had damaged the road leading to Army Day Secondary School, making it difficult for students to access the school. “We must do better for our children,” he said, adding that work would begin the next day to address the lack of fences and other problems at the schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, explained that the Ministry had received reports about the poor conditions in these schools. He said the Governor wanted to see the situation for himself to better understand the challenges faced by students and ensure that every child in Edo has access to quality education.

“The Governor is here to witness the conditions firsthand, as he wants to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a proper education,” said Iyamu. “The Governor is committed to improving the state’s education system, and with his leadership, we will see positive changes.”

Omonzane Ebanehita, Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board, also noted that Evbareke Secondary School was not a conducive environment for learning. She thanked the Governor for visiting and pledged to work on finding long-term solutions to the school’s challenges.

Mrs. Mary Izewingie, Vice Principal of Students’ Affairs at Evbareke Secondary School, shared that the school’s condition had remained