Benin, Edo – The Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) has praised the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, for his prompt and decisive response to a controversial directive allegedly issued by the Edo State Secondary Education Board (SSEB).

The directive, which instructed teachers and pupils to engage in grass clearing and school compound cleanup ahead of the new academic session, had sparked widespread criticism.

In a statement signed by Leftist Aliyu O. Umweni, Assistant Secretary General of EDOCSO, the group expressed disapproval of the SSEB’s circular, dated August 27, 2025, and signed by Obarisiagbon M. I.

The circular directed executive principals of senior secondary schools to oversee grass clearing and cleanup exercises, citing the need to maintain a clean and hygienic school environment as part of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s education reform agenda.

EDOCSO described the directive as a “disgraceful and demeaning practice” that undermined the dignity of teachers and called for its immediate retraction.

Responding swiftly, Dr. Iyamu issued a statement on September 1, 2025, denying that the Ministry of Education had instructed teachers to undertake such menial tasks.

He clarified that any teachers involved in grass clearing may have done so voluntarily as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

The commissioner also announced a full-scale investigation to ascertain the facts and address any irregularities, emphasizing that the ministry would not condone practices that distract teachers from their primary role of imparting knowledge.

EDOCSO lauded Dr. Iyamu’s proactive approach, describing it as “commendable and worthy of emulation by other public servants.”

The group highlighted the commissioner’s response as a model of collaborative partnership between civil society and government, urging governments at all levels to view civil society organizations as partners rather than adversaries.

“This act speaks to the collaborative partnership of the civil society and government in the development of the society,” Umweni stated.

The controversy arose from a circular that also required principals to submit photographic evidence of the cleanup exercise to an SSEB WhatsApp page by September 5, 2025, for monitoring purposes.

The directive claimed the exercise was mandatory to sustain the governor’s education reform agenda.

However, Dr. Iyamu stressed that such tasks do not align with the state’s efforts to restore the dignity of the teaching profession, citing ongoing reforms such as increased minimum wages, regularization of casual teachers, construction of teachers’ quarters, and consistent training programs.

EDOCSO’s commendation underscores the importance of responsive governance and constructive dialogue between stakeholders in addressing issues that affect the education sector.

The group expressed optimism that the investigation ordered by Dr. Iyamu would ensure accountability and reinforce the state’s commitment to quality education.

The Edo State Government, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, has been recognized for recent educational initiatives, including the recruitment of over 500 teachers, the launch of the Edo Cert 2.0 digital platform, and infrastructure renovations across schools in the state.

As the investigation into the SSEB directive continues, EDOCSO has called for sustained collaboration to protect the rights and welfare of educators while advancing the state’s educational goals.