A circular from the Edo State Secondary Education Board has caused a stir after it instructed principals and teachers, working at schools, to cut grasses and clean schools prior to the 2025/2026 academic session.
The circular, dated August 27, instructed principals to manage the exercise and take pictures as evidence of the exercise. Teachers were to start on September 1, the students to join one week later. The circular described the task as “mandatory” and in line with education reform agenda of the governor.
This led to uproar from civil groups and teachers’ unions by contending that this violates indeed if this task is given to teachers as part of any job description. Their concerns is that teachers are not being positioned to make any sort of academic preparation, instead at the total disposal of menial labour.
Then in a flurry of news, the Edo State Ministry of Education denied issuing the directive. The Commissioner of education Paddy Iyamu stated that such reporting is frivolous and that teachers cannot be compelled to cut grasses, or do maintenance. This is voluntary at best if teachers want to lend a hand to the school community.
The ministry then further announced that it would investigate the source of this circular. It assured all stakeholders that the professional authority of teachers remains intact and professional. It assured the public that government will always provide the environment in which to learn and teach while maintaining the dignity of everyone including teachers.
This incident has also raised wider conversation on education reform, resource allocation for education, and the tenuous situation of most schools infrastructure in Edo state. The government will need to provide clarity, in order to reassure teachers, students, and parents as schools look to reopen.