Focus: Policies, Influence And Legacies of Governors On Secondary School Education In Edo State

    Governor Godwin Obaseki

By Bernadette Idalu

Edo State's slogan, "Heartbeat of the nation" mirrors the attributes of Edo State's indigenous people who share a common culture, colours, suave, drama, mien and poise irrespective of location. These are are a set of people who do not let their situation define them. They consciously make efforts to draw their own rainbows. They even out and to a large extent, define their own situation. They excel and become professionals in any given field of human endeavour; they have the grit and tenacity to sail them through whether such professions are geared towards societal good or vice. "Edo no dey carrey last." 

A "heartbeat is the contraction of your heart to pump blood to your lungs and the rest of your body. Your heart's electrical system determines how fast your heart beats." As a state, the characteristic ability to contract as to be able to inject vital life source into the economy and the Nigerian nation reflects the vitality of the state. 

Edo State despite inroads to setup a viable business environment is still mostly referred to as a civil service state. It has a lot of reputable academic institutions to boot. On the whole, the average Edo indigene is well travelled, irrespective of exposure to western education. However, influences imbibed from foreign sojourn by many citizens, referred to as "Akateh" who are said to "Pay like whites" at business dealings has helped to influence and impact attitudes and mannerisms of Benin residents.

Western education placed side by side with the street intelligence and its nuances has helped to sharpen trapped potentials in individuals. On a daily basis, you run into commentaries at street corners where emotions usually run high on claims and counter claims on the vanity of education. Despite claims of nay sayers who assert that education is a scam based on present joblessness of graduates, there is need to commend personal efforts of individuals, organizations and even government for making efforts to stop the action of mischief makers who prey on secondary aged students, hoodwinking them to servitude with nonexistent juicy foreign employments.

Right from the Midwest Region, to the Benin Province, up to Bendel State and now Edo State, secondary school education has always had its own challenges but this never defined the outcome of students as to restrict them to the background in life. They thrived and succeeded, gaining prominence at careers ventured into in life. This is all thanks to their solid secondary school foundation and the role of teachers who directed them on right career paths.

Building role models among peers ordinarily is meant to make others work harder to actualize on set dreams. This was a drive force in use in schools in the 1980's. I remember my now late older sibling, Ferdinand, was employed as an auxiliary physics/chemistry teacher by his school through the recommendation of his teachers after sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Examination. They saw the need to engage his intellect proactively to sharpen interest of other students in sciences during his gap year, waiting for admission to the university. He taught his immediate school juniors in Form 4 transiting to 5. 

Merit should be given its place of honour. Crass favouritism with a deficit of requisite skills has landed us in the pit hole we find ourselves in all spheres of life. There is an urgent need to grow a crop of professionals who get things done perfectly to speed up a chain of societal development.

Before I make a review of governors and their level of impact on secondary education, there is need to review and know how we found ourselves in this contraption called Edo State.

The Mid-West Region was an administrative division of Nigeria from June 1963 to February, 1966. It was formed from the Benin and Delta provinces with capital in Benin City. By May 27, 1967 it became known as the Mid Western State. On March 17, 1976 this same space became known as Bendel State. By August 27, 1991, Bendel State was split in two leading to the creation of Edo and Delta States.

Chief Dennis Chukudebe Osadebey, a lawyer by profession, was the first Premier of the Mid-West Region from August 9, 1963 to January 1966. The first military coup that occurred in Nigeria removed him from office. He was born in Asaba on June 29, 1911 and died there in 1994, aged 83years. 

His influence on the education sector can be gleaned from his membership of the Boys Scout Movement of Nigeria where he was a mentor and leader. 

He represented Nigeria at the Boy Scouts World Jamboree, England in 1929. By 1933 he founded the 13th Owerri Group of Boy Scouts at Port-Harcourt. He later became the first Scouts master. His interest and influence gave visibility to this voluntary organization. Presently, this club exists in many secondary school where it pulls  more than fifty percent (50%) of its membership. 

Members as part of extra curricular school activities get mentored on volunteerism, communal living, acts of charity, leadership, first aid, and outdoor existence through practical setting up of camp grounds replete with tents and other makeshift facilities to enable them encounter nature at its simplicity.  Edo State Government House is named after him.

Major Osaigbovo Ogbemudia became the Military Administrator of Midwest State on September 20, 1967. He later rose in rank, becoming the Military/civilian governor of the state. He built infrastructures which impacted on the lives of secondary students among which were the Bendel Library, Ethiope Publishing Corporation and even the now renamed and remodeled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, formally known as the "Ogbe stadium" which is replete with tartan tracks and modern sporting facilities which has played host to students and gone a long way rekindling the sporting spirit in secondary students. 

Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli was head and shoulders taller than most of his peers. He was the first Executive Governor of Bendel State. His legacies are visible till date. He discharged his duties from 1979 to 1983, powered on by his campaign manifesto which was hinged on provision of free education at all levels, free medical service, integrated rural development and gainful employment. 

Between October 1979 and March 1980, Professor Alli’s administration established 80 new secondary schools in the state to complement the 187 schools already in existence. Approval was also given for the establishment of 338 new secondary schools in all parts of the state to make education accessible and within reach of each community.  

In less than three years, the number of secondary schools in the state rose from 187 by October 1979 to over 850 by 1983. School fees and entrance examinations to secondary schools were abolished with effect from October I, 1979. The legacies and policy thrust of this administration led to massive enlightenment. Provision of free education helped to bridge the existing educational gap in society. This led to the emergence of the middle and upper cadre skilled manpower development. 

A vast number of erudite professor's and achievers who bestride different spheres of life and human development in Nigeria and in the diaspora are beneficiaries of this free education policy. Sadly, some persons known to have called for the outright stoppage of a free education system are beneficiaries of same resource which help them actualize to break the cycle of poverty in their families. This is why the aphorism, "Never scorn your small beginning," is a lesson learned, on its own merit.

At that time, the academic calendar was structured to allow students stay at home and on holidays, during the rainy season. They were expected to help their parents with household chores and partake in  farming activities. The economy was based on agrarianism. Students knew, ahead of time, the dire consequence for breaching this set rule. God help them if parents made an appearance in school to report about their dereliction of duty. 

Stating his stand on education, Professor Alli stated, "When you educate a child, you educate a nation. When you educate the body and mind you have an effective instrument for social and economic development. Education is the platform for progress. It is the foundation of life itself”

When a unionist and former President, Nigeria Labour Congress from 1999 to 2007 takes over the reigns of leadership of a state, there is bound to be an adrenaline rush associated with carrying out activities in the line of duty.

To make networking interesting based on above background, protests, forming of quorums, alignments, accusations and counter accusations, face offs, negotiations and agreements, picketing, strike actions, sending out short notices, having round table discussions, and arbitration if and when the need arise are welcome developments which help first of all to assert the self as a core unionist, bent on entrenching the rule of law and place of good governance.

Till date, sobriquets such as "Oshio-quake," "Oshio-Baba," "Oshio-Wonder," still get mouthed in praise of the man, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. He was the President of Nigeria Labour Congress from 1999 to 2007 and Executive Governor of Edo State, from 2008 to 2016.

Sworn into office on November 12, 2008, after the Court of Appeal declared him the rightful winner of Edo state gubernatorial election of April 2007, he assumed office and set to work. He was reelected to a second term of office on July 14, 2012, ending his tenure on November 12, 2016.

During his first tenure in office, he accused teachers of abdicating on their duties. He asked them to choose between trading or remaining upbeat at their duty posts.

He paid unscheduled visits to New Benin and Oba Markets, interacting with traders in order to identify the teachers among them on market days. This caused a stampede. In their hurry to get to school, some teachers arrived at their duty posts oblivious of being fully kitted with their trade aprons (Orjah).

His tenure brought to an abrupt end the era of open melon seeds cracking by students in class for teachers. Underground strategies had to be adopted to avoid stories that touch.

He is the only governor known to have played the hide and seek game with secondary school teachers. Sneaking into classrooms, he sat amongst students, listening and even asking questions to assess the quality and content of class lessons and methodology of teaching. Teachers froze, turning back from blackboards to realize the governor had been their guest student.

Over time, they felt pressured and under the constant illusion of loosing their jobs. They made effort to dress presentably to avoid being put on journalism kleiglights  wherein recorded slip ups got aired for public consumotion. This unfortunately led to the mortification and embarrassment of their families.

By April 3, 2014, there was a head on. Teachers who felt their buttons had been pushed far enough reacted, "We dare you to sack us," they said, insisting "It will be a world headline that the Edo State Government sacked about 17,000 teachers in the state public primary and secondary schools…”

The leadership of the State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT) led by Mike Uhunmwangho, insisted that its members would not sit for any competency test conducted by the state government as a court of competent jurisdiction had restrained the state government from conducting the test. Despite his stand, it is on record that many teachers flouted laid down union directives. They snuck out to write the test to prevent being sacked.

As at December 13, 2012, "Comrade Oshiomhole had ordered the suspension of some teachers and dismissal of 41 inspectors of education over their dereliction of duty. He also promoted some teachers."

At a town hall meeting in Benin, while reacting to the incidence, the governor said, “I am ready to reconsider the case of the teachers whose case is not really bad.

“If you were absent, may be once a month or two months, we may reconsider, but those who are perpetual absentees and perpetual latecomers, may God forgive them, I may not be able to forgive them.

“But we must be able to strike a critical balance between being seen to be nice and taking the difficult decisions that will move the state forward.

“As a teacher, you are not into teaching merely on account of your pay. You are in the business because you have a passion for imparting knowledge.” 

He was a philanthropist. During this period, he adopted some indigent students amongst whom was the then viral stowaway boy whom he enrolled at a boarding school in Benin City for ease of monitoring. He paid their school fees. Students didn't mind turning their broken down classroom windows, bereft of louvres, to getaway exit doors as they raced to reach the comrade governor, possibly to have a handshake with him while on tour of their schools facilities. 

Despite his head-on with teachers, he tried to make the school environment conducive for them. He went about removing denuded zinc and asbestos roofing sheets from schools, replacing them with corrugated red coloured iron roofing sheets which started the advent of the red roofed classrooms in Edo State. He put ceiling fans and finishings in classrooms to make them comfortable for learning. He setup school laboratories and provided chairs and tables for classrooms. He built perimeter fence for some schools.

Unfortunately, he could not provide red roofs to all schools in the state before the end of his tenure. Criticism trailed the constructed tables and chairs. Contractors were accused of carrying out shoddy jobs. Neighborhood thieves vandalized most of these provided infrastructures and laboratory equipment. They went as far as carting away ceiling fans which had school names engraved on them for personal use. 

School chairs got sighted at Mama Akara or "Bean cake" stands in the community where such chairs were used to make customers comfortable waiting to be served. Neighbourhood thieves inadvertently deprived their own wards of the opportunity to sit on school chairs but on bare floors while receiving lessons at school. Few schools could protect their facilities. Erected perimeter fence were brought down for continued use as neighborhood link roads even during school hours.

By September 29, 2016, Mr. Godwin Obaseki was elected as the Governor of Edo State. He was reelected for a second tenure at the gubernatorial election which took place on September 19, 2020. 

Being a technocrat he came onboard with technology for use in monitoring, teaching and computing results of students which has enhanced classroom management. 

His passion for academic excellence is best expressed in his speech to Aminat Yusuf, the best graduating student, in forty years, of the Lagos State University, Ojo.

The law graduate, of Edo State origin, was addressed thus by the governor, “I congratulate Yusuf Aminat Imoitesemeh on her record-setting feat as the best graduating and best ever student at the Lagos State University. With a perfect 5.0 CGPA, she has indeed shattered the glass ceiling and cast her name in stone at the institution.

“An Edo indigene, Yusuf, has proven, once again, that with dedication, hard work and diligence no record is too difficult to break. She embodies the indefatigable Edo spirit and represents the best of us.

“I celebrate her genius and the hope she represents for our youths, and applaud her remarkable feat, wishing her even more resounding success in her future endeavours.”

With the public acclaim, Yusuf becomes a role model to youths across Nigeria. She was serenaded and rewarded by the Edo and even the Lagos State Governor, Sanwo Olu based on this academic feat.

Technically, this was a proof of validity that one does not have to be a star based on the appearance at reality shows where raw skin is put on display to curry public acclaim.

Available data show that as at 2005 Edo State with a total number of 540 public secondary schools was one of five top ranked states in Nigeria based on the number of public secondary schools on ground. Oyo state ranked first with 806 schools which accounted for 7.39% of Nigeria's public secondary schools. Lagos, Delta, Edo, and Kano states accounted for 30.01% with Nigeria's total public secondary schools estimated at 10,913.

By October 5, 2020, Godwin Obaseki, praised teachers for their resilience and commitment to human development through the use of technology in the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, operational in over 840 schools which he acknowledged led to a unified lesson plan for teaching secondary school students irrespective of location. He upscaled to EdoBEST 2.0.

 

EdoBest at Home initiative was a unique initiative launched during the Covid-19 lockdown which earned him international recognition due to his ability to come up with a teaching process which embraced the use of technology which spaced out students and helped eliminate the need to congregate in closeknit classrooms which heightened the risk for the quick transfer of disease pathogens among students. 

Government sources state that the initiative have recorded an average of 20,000 pupils. The strategy is presently being deployed for junior secondary school students who are made to stay home for two days, on each given week, as a form of palliative measure put in place by government to help parents cushion the effects of the federal government's removal of petroleum oil subsidy.

Obaseki"s administration as at February 9, 2020, built five mini stadias for use, located in select secondary schools across the three senatorial zones of the state. This is in addition to the reintroduction of sporting activities in the school's curriculum. Students partake in competitions such as "Principals Cup." And like their counterparts in private schools, its eureka for public secondary school students who come to school elated every Wednesday, fully kitted in sportswear, ready to partake in the organized aerobic activities.

The sports rebirth in secondary schools, so far, this year, has led to the nomination of nine soccer players for an eligibility test into the state owned Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens football clubs (FC's).  

Though yet to be implemented, the governor promised a thirteenth month pay to teachers even as he announced the extension of their retirement age from 60years to 65years and in the alternative raised their work years from 35years to 40years of service.

 

Glamour has become added to the teaching profession. Principals are now referred to as "Executive Principals." They wear sweet smiles, adorned in cute suits, with knotted ties with which they strike a pose with higher ups and colleagues during photograph opportunities (photo-ops.) Executive Principals now wear black suits with red shirts. Same colour trend apply to females even when they choose to adorn corporate gowns.

A new policy tilt was added to the routine on July 18, 2023, with the one week swop of executive principals. These resumed  duties in other schools where they are expected to monitor the third term examination activities of such schools and give feedback on findings from their stay in such schools from July 18 to 22, 2023. 

On the flip side, despite inroads made to make secondary education standout, much can still be achieved. The EdoBEST strategy touted to be a "revolutionary basic education reform programme that has so far changed classroom management techniques, teacher performance, child care and motivation, as well as learning outcomes," is plagued by minor setbacks.

Amongst noticed setbacks is the fact that many students don't have android phones with which to gain access to online learning. Those with phones don't necessarily have the funds to buy data. In a particular school only 45 students were logged in while in another only 9 students were logged in from an entire junior school. This defeats the aim of the programme. 

For the three days junior school students attend school, they tend to loose focus as the day winds down to their new closing time of 4:45pm. Many run after their older siblings as soon as the closing bell tolls for senior secondary school. These have to leave school due to shared transport fare and need to lap themselves to minimise cost of transportation. Hunger must not be overlooked.

Said technology has its own peculiarities. Provision of power banks to teachers to backup the use of tablets to make the learning process seamless for students, especially rural dwellers who need an alternative energy storing device to power tablets (phones) is a problem. Provision is mostly tied to the collection of the four thousand naira development fee paid by each student. 

Most senior school executive principals are yet to meet this target, even in Benin. There is also the challenge with provision of one thousand naira to teachers to buy data to power said process. Despite ongoing efforts to ensure compliance, many parents have not been able to meet up with their financial obligations.

They cite the harsh realities of present times, soaring inflation and high costs of living. Many reveal that feeding has become a challenge. They show willingness to pull out their wards from school for the time being to prevent embarrassment.

Many students come hungry to school. These rest their heads on the desk during teaching. Teachers understand. They either buy such biscuits from their personal resource or just let them be.

Checks revealed that only junior secondary school teachers received tablets from government, some were found to be malfunctioning and had to be returned or worked on. Those in senior secondary school had to upgrade by buying android phones for use even when they were not ready to move away from their old but reliable small phones nicknamed, "kpalasahs" used predominantly for call and text messaging. They had to comoly with new rule or fall out of the system.This is even as the governor commissioned the Imose tablet production, repair centre in Benin April 28, 2023, which aims to boost technical and vocational education in the state.

Some teachers in junior school say they  received used tablets which carried details of retired teachers. Vital information was not even cleaned off before redistribution was carried out. This is even as those in senior school get teased to warm up to receive theirs based on a claimed ongoing refurbishment of 800 tablets use. 

Scripted notes indeed have made learning seamless. However, these have been observed to be riddled with errors. There is need to involve experts from each subject area vast with proofreading abilities to seive out the shaft associated with the process. There is no need for the fire brigade approach to solving problems.

Also, rights of students are better protected with the halt of corporal punishment. Students are  motivated with parapanda claps and writing out their names in the weekly board of fame when they distinguish themselves in class work/academics or based on abilities to manage the classroom environment. Some students however have become nonchalant and assertive, they don't care about motivation outcomes. They state, "Make dem dey write name of who dem want, na dem no." 

Having direct lines of policy implementers in their pockets is a plus to students. They threaten to report teachers who fail to teach, as and when due. Compliance and due process must be followed. Though this checkmates lazy attitude of some individuals, the self worth of teachers have been cut in half. At other times, students blow things out of proportion when it involves those teachers whom they do not have a good rapport with.

It is now an open secret that you need to have a bigwig in government to fast track the principal selection process. They point with pride to beneficiaries of this process. It is pertinent to know that some teachers in senior secondary school on grade level 16 are still classroom teachers while their junior colleagues on level 15 have already been made principals.

Unsubstantiated allegations are rife. Teachers yet to be made principals assert that teachers desirous to be made principals part with three hundred thousand naira to get schools in urban centres while five hundred thousand naira is paid to get them big schools. Yet another source claimed one hundred and fifty thousand naira only was what exchanged hands. This is aside a forty thousand naira codenamed "appreciation money" which another source said was given out by beneficiaries to benefactors and implementers of policy as soon as the transfer process sails through. 

On a tete-a-tete note, some senior school principals openly state that they do not understand what is playing out nowadays. Using exclamations such as, "Ogiemhi," a Bini word which connotes shock, exasperation or even frustration, to buttress their point, they grumble out their displeasure at the way policy implementers keep calling them at any given hour of the day, even as late as 10:pm at night. They get quizzed and asked pertinent questions which they claim not to understand, sometimes. This conversation runs unto the wee hours of the morning and as early as 3:am, on week days. 

Punishment has become generalized. Recently, a parent called a key stakeholder in the education ministry to report about a teacher who forwarded scripted notes to her child's phone. The matter was looked into. At the end of the process, letters of posting were issued to sixteen teachers of said school on Friday July 7, 2023. They were directed to resume in their new schools, next term. In another school only four teachers survived the process in separate scenario. 

Teaching personnel are constantly warned with postings to the village. Executive principals on the other hand let their subordinates realize that in this era, responsibilities get apportioned only to those who can deliver irrespective of grade level. Hierarchy has nothing to do with this process. They reveal that they have a standing order to drop lists of non compliant teachers for immediate transfers. 

The educational system has become a trading ground. Not long ago executive principals were directed to go buy sports wear at a specific sports shop. Some had to borrow quick money, "to cover shame, no be me poor pass" to meet up with directive. Same process has been repeated  this year with instructions sent out to go buy slicers for cutting schools grass. This is aside short notices received to either go buy and plant plantain suckers or coconut seedlings. These items are said to have been bought above market price, despite the lament by principals  that there is no money at hand with which to manage schools effectively.

Last year September, to kick start a new season of wellness through partaking in physical fitness, haven purchased said sports wears, executive principals partook in routine exercises in their colourful sportswear and canvas shoes at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) ground. 

The exercise started on a good note but did not end well. A principal was later discovered slumped and gasping for breath at the toilet where she went to ease herself. Her inner cycle of friends at the auspicious sports meet rushed her to a federal health facility in Benin where she received treatment and got placed on oxygen for three days. Organizers made provision for food and drinks but forgot to do same for first aid and having a medical personnel on standby in case of medical emergencies.

Presently, many senior secondary school teachers are at loggerheads with their coordinate academic staff union. They urge officials to be more proactive at fighting their cause. This has sometimes led to rowdy WhatsApp chat group sessions and verbal attacks on known leaders of the union who step into secondary school grounds where they are not so popular. 

Junior secondary school teachers don't see the procedure of logging in and out within schools premises to register their attendance in school as being funny. They have no choice than to comply due to diligent monitoring put in place. Due to repeated scripted lesson notes, sometimes appearing thrice in a row, some teachers simply log in and out within designated lesson hours since they have to comply with procedures but have no new topic to teach.

Open day is more or less a mirage in public schools. On a very good day some schools record the presence of 45 parents while some have about two or three parents showing up. Many parents who are petty traders refuse to show up despite notices sent through their wards to them. When queried on this, they tell the teacher, "Tisha, i nor fit comot hand for my market... many tins go spoil."  This is to let you know that they are playing vital roles as providers for their families. 

These parents also let such teachers realize that children are products of a communal till, "No be one persi born pikin, dem be our shidren." Bluntly speaking, they urge the teacher to stand in the void and act as parents to said students even when they are non biological. 

Stubborn students refuse to pick or drop notices to their parents even when they collect same. Sometimes they state that their parents are dead. These students drop fake phone numbers and contact addresses. 

Monday, July 3, 2023, was a watershed day. An ugly incident played out in front of a school at Upper Sakponmba. There was an altercation and the gateman was said to have been verbally assaulted for a long stretch of time by a policy implementer based on the accusation that his reflex at opening the school gate was slow. The intended kowtow stance did not go unnoticed. 

Sources say they heard students who were outside of the gate say, "This must be the woman making our parents uncomfortable." What happened next was a shock. The students bent down, picked up pebbles which they let fly in same direction. The implementer had to move back into the car, making a hasty retreat.

At this stage it is germane to recommend to the state government to put in place its own internal mechanism to monitor and regulate activities of its personnel. They are the face of government and the governance process. Gaslighting should be discouraged while carrying out official duties. 

With the massive training and retraining programmes put in place to bring teachers up to speed with modern teaching practice and techniques, a tremendous impact has been made on the education sector. However, the duration and timing of training should be made conducive for teachers and must not necessarily take place every holiday period. Teachers require time to bond with their individual families.

Checks showed that teachers are beginning to camouflaging their innate feelings to avoid being made casualties of the system. They have began to display Uncle Tom syndrome in African American "Race studies literature, where Uncle Tom as a necessary survival technique, opts to appear docile, nonassertive, and happy-go-lucky, especially during slavery, using passivity and servility for the avoidance of retaliation and for self preservation."