Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared a state of emergency in public schools, citing their deplorable conditions and the urgent need for improvement.

During an inspection tour of schools in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas on Tuesday, the governor expressed deep concern over the poor learning environment, stating that Edo children deserve better facilities to maximize their potential.

“I feel bad about the state of the schools I inspected today. The conditions are unacceptable for our children,” Okpebholo said while visiting Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor.

Reaffirming his commitment to prioritizing education, he announced that rehabilitation work would commence immediately.

“From tomorrow, work will begin at these schools. These schools have no fence, and erosion has washed away the road leading to Army Day Secondary School. The road to Army Day, Boundary Road, leading to Temboga, is in terrible shape, making access to education difficult for our children,” he added.

Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, stated that the governor’s visit aimed to assess students’ challenges firsthand.

“The governor is here to understand the difficulties of the students and help find solutions. He is committed to practical governance to show Edo people that they deserve better,” Iyamu said.

Meanwhile, Vice Principal of Students’ Affairs at Evbareke Secondary School, Mrs. Mary Izewingie, lamented that despite repeated complaints since 2022, the school’s condition had not improved.

“We cried out for help, but nobody listened. Learning has been difficult for our students. We even tried to make repairs, but the rains ruined our efforts,” she said.

The state government has pledged urgent intervention to restore learning facilities and improve educational infrastructure across Edo.