Despite denial by the Edo State Government, a circular directing secondary school teachers to cut grass and clean up their various schools ahead of resumption for 2025/2026 academic session has surfaced.
The circular dated August 27, 2025, was signed by Obarisiagbon M. I. on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board, SSEB, Dr Maureen Ekhorangbon.
The letter was addressed to all Executive Principals of Edo State senior secondary schools.
The circular read: “In furtherance of the commitment of His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State Senator Monday Okpeholo Shine Transformation Agenda, we follow suit by clearing the schools in preparation for resumption.
“All Executive Principals are directed to take off the grasses and clean up their schools ahead of resumption.
“This exercise is to keep our environment clean, hygienic, safe, and to inculcate discipline and voluntary service into our students.
“Teachers: Monday, 1st September 2025 and Students: Monday, 8th September 2025.
“Principals are required to supervise the exercise personally and ensure
standards are met. And a brief report with photographic evidence of their clearing exercise must be sent to our integrity Whatsapp page by Friday, 5th September 2025 for monitoring purposes.
“This exercise is mandatory and forms part of our collective responsibility in sustaining the Governor’s education reform agenda. Together, let us make our schools safe, clean, and ready for teaching and learning.
“SSEB takes the lead and Executive Principals follow.”
The emergence of the document has lent credence to concerns earlier raised by civil society groups that teachers were being forced to engage in grass-cutting and other maintenance work in Edo secondary schools.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, had in a statement on Monday dismissed the civil society groups’ allegations that teachers were forced to cut grass.
Iyamu, who described the allegations as “unfounded”, insisted that any grass-cutting activities by teachers were voluntary and part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS.
Recall that civil society organisations in the state such as Edo Civil Society Organisations, EDOCSO, and Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights had condemned the action of the state government.
EDOCSO, in a statement signed by
Leftist Aliyu O Umweni, Assistant Secretary General, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular. The group also demanded that the government apologize to the public schools teachers.
The group opined that “a nation that doesn’t treat its teachers best will always stay worse and retarded”.
It also called for a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies whose responsibility is the cleaning and maintenance of public property to ensure schools are well-maintained and conducive for learning.
On his part, the Edo State chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajabuwe said the union had written to the government to protest the development.
“We have written to the government that our members should disregard the directive because we are not meant to cut grass, and that we are professionals. Our duty is mainly to impact knowledge to pupils and students
“We confronted the Board on the circular. They have debunked the message as that was not their intention. They have apologized for the message,” he said.
