The Edo State Government has dismissed claims that teachers were instructed to cut grass and carry out menial maintenance work in public schools.

Dr. Paddy Iyamu, Commissioner for Education, made this clarification in a statement released on Monday in Benin.

Iyamu explained that while some teachers may have engaged in such activities voluntarily, the government never issued any directive compelling them to do so.

“The attention of the Edo State Ministry of Education has been drawn to a publication by a civil society group alleging that teachers are being told by the ministry to cut grass and engage in menial jobs to maintain in their respective schools.

“Though information at our disposal suggests that it was a voluntary CSR from some teachers. We have ordered a full-scale investigation into this action, and we assure our esteemed teachers that we will get to the root of the matter and correct any abnormality in whatever form,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that the ministry frowned at the allegation, describing it as “unfounded” and capable of undermining ongoing reforms to restore dignity to the teaching profession.

“Teachers’ priority is to impart knowledge, so we want to discourage in very strong terms teachers forcibly engaging in or being used to engage in tasks that do not directly correlate with strengthening knowledge gaps and learning outcomes,” Iyamu stated.

He further cautioned the public against individuals seeking to discredit the ministry because of reforms aimed at blocking “unwholesome benefits to a few; to protect the common man and the children from humble beginnings.”

Iyamu also highlighted some of the government’s recent interventions to improve teacher welfare, including the increase in minimum wage, the regularisation of casual teachers after three years, construction of teachers’ quarters, and continuous training programmes.

“The Senator Monday Okpebholo administration is fully committed to ensuring that every Edo child gets the best in education and every teacher becomes proud of being an Edo Teacher,” he added.