2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION:
EDO TEACHERS TO CUT GRASS?
The Edo State Government is under fire following the emergence of a leaked circular from the Edo Secondary Education Board (SSEB), dated August 27, 2025, which explicitly directs teachers in senior secondary schools to cut grass and clean school premises ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session.
This directive starkly contradicts the state government’s earlier denial of such orders, exposing a troubling pattern of dishonesty and disregard for the dignity of educators in the state.
Signed by Obarisiagbon M. I. on behalf of SSEB Executive Chairman Dr. Maureen Ekhorangbon, the circular mandates Executive Principals to mobilize teachers for the menial task of grass-cutting on September 1, with students expected to join on September 8.Principals were further instructed to supervise the exercise personally and submit photographic evidence to the SSEB’s “integrity WhatsApp page” by September 5, framing the directive as a “mandatory” component of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s education reform agenda.
The circular’s lofty rhetoric about fostering a “clean, hygienic, and safe” environment and instilling “discipline and voluntary service” in students does little to mask its humiliating implications for teachers, who are being reduced to laborers rather than respected professionals.
The Edo State Ministry of Education, led by Commissioner Dr. Paddy Iyamu, had previously dismissed allegations of such directives as “unfounded” in a statement issued on September 1, 2025, claiming any grass-cutting by teachers was voluntary and part of their “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR).This denial now appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, as the leaked circular confirms that teachers were indeed coerced into performing these degrading tasks under official orders.
The ministry’s attempt to spin this as voluntary CSR is not only disingenuous but an insult to the intelligence of Edo’s citizens and the teaching profession at large.
A human rights coalition in the state has fiercely condemned the directive, labeling it a “disgraceful and demeaning practice” that violates teachers’ rights and professional dignity.
In a statement by the Coordinator, Kola Edokpayi and Secretary General Aghatise Raphael, the coalition argued that teachers, as nation-builders tasked with shaping young minds, should not be reduced to gardeners or cleaners.
They demanded the immediate hiring of proper support staff to handle school maintenance and warned of protests and legal action if the government fails to reverse this policy.
“Teachers are not slaves, and schools are not forced labor camps,” the coalition declared, highlighting the government’s blatant violation of labor ethics.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State Chapter, has also taken a firm stand against the directive.
Chairman Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajabuwe revealed that the union had formally protested to the government, urging teachers to disregard the circular.
“Our duty is to impart knowledge, not to cut grass,” Ajabuwe stated, noting that the SSEB later apologized, claiming the directive was a misunderstanding.This apology, however, rings hollow in light of the circular’s clear and coercive language, which leaves little room for misinterpretation.
Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, which campaigned on promises to prioritize education and respect teachers, now stands accused of hypocrisy.
The circular’s reference to the governor’s “Shine Transformation Agenda” as justification for this policy only deepens the sense of betrayal felt by educators and citizens.
Forcing teachers to perform menial labor under the guise of educational reform is not only an affront to their profession but also a misallocation of resources.Funds designated for school maintenance should be used to hire dedicated support staff, not to burden teachers with tasks outside their expertise.
The emergence of this circular has reignited concerns about the state government’s commitment to its much-touted education reforms, as this latest scandal threatens to undermine those gains by alienating the very educators the program relies on.
Teachers, already grappling with low pay and challenging working conditions, deserve respect and support, not exploitation.
The Edo State Government’s attempt to whitewash this issue with denials and vague promises of investigation is unacceptable.
The public demands transparency, accountability, and an immediate end to this degrading practice.If Governor Okpebholo truly values education, he must act swiftly to restore teachers’ dignity, hire proper maintenance staff, and ensure that such an egregious policy is never repeated. Anything less is a betrayal of Edo’s teachers, students, and the future of the state’s education system.
