Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared a state of emergency on public schools in Edo State, citing their worsening conditions as an urgent concern.

During an inspection tour of schools in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas on Tuesday, the governor, accompanied by top officials, expressed disappointment over the poor state of urban schools.

He reaffirmed his campaign promise to revamp the education sector, stressing the need to provide students with a conducive learning environment.

At Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor, Okpebholo condemned the deplorable conditions under which students were studying.

“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,” he said.

He highlighted major infrastructural problems, including the lack of perimeter fencing and severe erosion, which had made access roads to Army Day Secondary School nearly impassable.

“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, stated that the governor’s visit was aimed at assessing the situation firsthand and ensuring 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 repeated complaints, the school’s condition had remained unchanged since 2022.