Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has rolled out an ambitious education reform agenda aimed at ensuring every child in the state has access to quality, future-ready learning opportunities.

The reforms, championed by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, are part of a deliberate and holistic strategy to rebuild the sector after decades of neglect. “No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. That is why we are investing in them like never before,” Dr. Iyamu stated.

Under the initiative, dilapidated schools are being transformed into modern learning centres fitted with STEM laboratories, functional classrooms, sanitation facilities, and teaching aids. Through the EduRescue Initiative, out-of-school children are being reintegrated, with free books and materials provided to ensure equity and inclusivity.

Teachers, seen as the drivers of educational excellence, are being empowered with recruitment opportunities, continuous training, digital tools, and tablets containing standardised lesson scripts to deliver high-quality and uniform instruction across the state.

Beyond academics, the reforms also embed vocational and technical skills. Every junior secondary school graduate will now leave with a trade certification, ensuring employability alongside classroom learning. Technical colleges in Igarra, Irrua, and Benin are undergoing revitalization, while a new National College is underway in Ovia to strengthen the state’s vocational education system.

To safeguard standards, the government is shutting down unregulated “miracle centers” and mushroom schools while partnering with WAEC and NECO to fight exam malpractice.

Parents are beginning to regain confidence in Edo’s public schools, convinced that their children can now access education that is credible, competitive, and character-driven.