Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to transform education in the state.
The Governor pledged to provide every child access to quality, inclusive, and future-ready learning opportunities.
According to Okpebholo, the reform agenda, codenamed the EduRescue Initiative, is a deliberate and holistic strategy designed to tackle decades of decay in the education sector.
A statement signed and issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said dilapidated schools are being rebuilt into modern learning centres with STEM laboratories, functional classrooms, sanitation facilities and teaching aids.
Through EduRescue, children previously out of school are being reintegrated, with free books and learning materials provided to ensure equity.
Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, said teachers remain central to the administration’s vision.
“No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. That is why we are investing in them like never before,” Iyamu declared.
He explained that the government is prioritising teacher recruitment, training, and digital empowerment. With tablets and standardised lesson scripts, teachers are now delivering uniform, high-quality instruction across the state.
Trade Certification For Students
Naijaonpoint understands that the reforms also seek to equip students with both academic and vocational skills. Every junior secondary school graduate will now leave with a trade certification, giving them employable skills alongside formal learning.
Technical colleges in Igarra, Irrua, and Benin are being revitalised, while a new National College is under development in Ovia to strengthen vocational and technical education.
The government has also begun restoring integrity to the education system. Unregulated “miracle centres” and mushroom schools are being shut down, while partnerships with WAEC and NECO are reinforcing the fight against examination malpractice.
Parents, the statement added, are regaining confidence in public schools, reassured that their children can now access education that is credible and competitive.
Higher Institutions Undergo Renewal
According to the statement, the higher education sector is also witnessing change. At Ambrose Alli University, two new 1,500-seat lecture theatres and a 600-bed hostel are under construction.
At Usen Polytechnic, a 5-kilometre road abandoned for two decades is being completed. The introduction of EdoCert 2.0 has digitised academic records, enabling students to access certificates online and ending years of delays securely.
The administration has also introduced a bursary scheme for indigent students and adopted the Federal Government’s NELFund programme to ensure no child is excluded from school due to financial hardship.
Beyond academics, civic education, moral reorientation, guidance and counselling, and sports competitions like the Principals’ Cup and Governor’s Cup are being revived to promote discipline, teamwork and leadership among youths.
Summarising the administration’s vision, Dr Iyamu said: “Our long-term ambition is for Edo to be the national model of education reform. We want children here not just to be literate but to be globally competitive, entrepreneurial, and future-ready.”