A recent circular has surfaced, directing secondary school teachers in Edo State to cut grass and clean their schools ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session, despite denials from the state government. The circular, dated August 27, 2025, was signed by Obarisiagbon M. I. on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board, Dr. Maureen Ekhorangbon.
The document instructs Executive Principals of senior secondary schools to supervise the exercise, ensuring standards are met, and to submit a brief report with photographic evidence by September 5, 2025. The stated goal is to maintain a clean, hygienic, and safe environment, while also promoting discipline and voluntary service among students.
The emergence of this circular has lent credibility to concerns raised by civil society groups, which had alleged that teachers were being forced to engage in grass-cutting and other maintenance work. The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, had previously dismissed these allegations as “unfounded,” claiming that any such activities were voluntary and part of teachers’ corporate social responsibility.
However, groups such as the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) and the Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights have condemned the state government’s actions. EDOCSO has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular and an apology to public school teachers, stating that a nation that fails to treat its teachers with respect will suffer consequences.
The Edo State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajabuwe, has also protested the development, stating that the union has written to the government to disregard the directive. The union argues that teachers are professionals whose primary duty is to impart knowledge, not to perform maintenance tasks.
The controversy has highlighted the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to ensure that schools are well-maintained and conducive to learning. As the academic session is set to begin, with teachers resuming on September 1, 2025, and students on September 8, 2025, the situation remains a subject of concern for educators, students, and the broader community.
