By Ebriku John Friday
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Wednesday, embarked on inspection of schools in the State, where he frowned at the dilapidated structures as well as the poor sanitary, security and learning conditions in the schools.
The Governor who was accompanied on the tour by the Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Paddy Iyamu and other top government functionaries, visited Eweka Primary School Obazagbon, Oroma Primary School Amagba; Amagba secondary school; and Uyiosa Primary School Uzebu; all in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to a statement by Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor , Mr Fred Itua, said Governor Okpebholo wondered the kind of “Edobest” programme ran by the past administration, saying rather than improving on the fortunes of the people, the initiative rather deprived the Edo child a comfortable learning environment.
At Eweka Primary School Obazagbon, the Governor said: “Look at the situation of this school, it is terrible as children are here, and this is the so called EdoBest. For me, this is not acceptable. My administration will fix this school.
“This school must be fenced and by next week Friday, I will be here to see the level of work done because work will commence and in the next few days, you will see transformation in this school.
“This school has just five teachers. My administration will correct the wrongs and make amends because our job is to make Edo people happy and our children educated in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
At Oroma Primary School Amagba, Governor Okpebholo said: “this is PDP’s Edobest. It is what we are seeing now but we will come with our renewed hope agenda for Edo people. New things will happen in this school. All what they don’t have we will provide. In the next few days, construction will be going on here.”
The Governor and his entourage also visited Amagba secondary school where some persons had encroached the school land.
Governor Okpebholo promised immediate fencing of the school while warning perpetrators to desist from encroaching on school lands.
At Uyiosa Primary School Uzebu Community, Governor Okpebholo promised to rebuild the school and provide security as he frowned at the unconducive learning environment in the school.
Some residents of the area commended the move by Governor Okpebholo to rebuild the school after years of dilapidation.
SUBEB Chairman, Paddy Iyamu, said immediately the Edo State Governor inaugurated him, he gave a matching order that every Edo child in any school in Edo State must matter.
He said every Edo child must have access to basic infrastructure and the overall well-being of their learning process must matter.
“We came here yesterday and what we met on ground was worrisome as this is the only government school in this community.
“Sadly the CORA City Obaseki led-administration claimed its building is close to this place. No infrastructure, no learning materials and classroom. It is not habitable. We are here with His Excellency who promised to begin work here to enable every Edo child access to quality education.”
