Edo governor commits N6 billion to schools reconstruction

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has announced plans to invest N6 billion in the reconstruction of secondary schools in the state between May 2023 and September 2024. He made this statement during a press conference held in Benin on Sunday, marking the conclusion of the 2023 Edo Education Week, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

Governor Obaseki emphasised his desire to establish a well-defined plan and direction for addressing the needs of the state’s education system. Recognising the long-standing challenges faced by the schools, he acknowledged that it would be unrealistic to expect his administration, which commenced its second term in September 2020, to completely resolve these issues within a short timeframe.

Starting from May 1 until September the following year, the governor announced that the funds initially allocated for road construction for the seaport project would be redirected towards secondary schools. The amount set aside for secondary schools alone exceeds N6 billion. 

Governor Obaseki pointed out that unlike primary and junior schools, secondary schools in the state lack federal support. While the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) assists the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for basic schools, secondary schools do not receive such support.

Governor Obaseki acknowledged the immense task of rebuilding schools, classrooms, providing furniture, and ensuring adequate textbooks for students. Nonetheless, he expressed his administration’s commitment to making significant progress and highlighted their achievements in demonstrating the feasibility of transforming the education system.

The governor also emphasised the importance of measuring learning outcomes and announced plans to recruit additional teachers. These measures would enable the government to assess the educational progress made by the students.

Governor Obaseki’s tenure will conclude in September 2024, coinciding with the governorship election in Edo state. With this initiative, he aims to leave a lasting impact on the education sector by addressing long-standing issues in secondary schools and providing a clear roadmap for future improvements.