As the new academic term began, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), took immediate steps to ensure that teachers were fulfilling their duties.
During a round of inspections across several primary schools in Benin, Oredo Local Government, Iyamu was taken aback when he discovered a teacher’s dereliction of duty. The teacher in question had awarded a pupil a correct score despite the student providing an incorrect answer.
“I read through the pupil’s workbook and found that the teacher had scored the pupil as correct, even though the answer was wrong,” Iyamu said, visibly disappointed. The teacher, who held a National Certificate in Education (NCE), was also reprimanded for failing to properly handle the basic educational needs of primary school children.
Iyamu visited a number of schools, including Uwa Primary School, Adesuwa Primary School, and Akenzua Primary School, and made it clear that the administration was committed to elevating the education sector. “The administration is committed to taking the state to greater heights in the education sector and other sectors. For education, we cannot toy with our future by not getting the right and competent hands to teach our children,” he stated.
While emphasizing the importance of appreciating and creating conducive work environments for teachers, Iyamu was firm in his stance against incompetence. “We will also not tolerate indolence and incompetence.”
In addition to disciplinary actions, Iyamu highlighted efforts to improve the learning environment. “As part of the effort to make learning and teaching conducive, dilapidated schools are being rebuilt,” he said, citing a recent inspection of schools in which he had seen poor conditions. Governor Monday Okpebholo had immediately ordered the demolition and reconstruction of one such building, with work progressing swiftly to ensure a timely return to a better learning space for the students.
