The Edo State Government has announced the recruitment of 4,500 teachers in a major move to address manpower shortages in public schools and improve the quality of education in the state.
This includes the regularisation of 4,000 EdoStar volunteer teachers who have been working in schools across the state for the past three years, and the recruitment of 500 new teachers.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, during an event in Benin City to mark the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration. The theme of this year’s celebration was “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.”
Iyamu said the formal presentation of appointment letters to the newly employed teachers will begin on October 15 at a public ceremony to be held at the Government House.
“Come October 15, we are going to present letters of appointment to about 4,000 EdoStar volunteer teachers who have been teaching for the past three years,” Iyamu said. “Besides the EdoStar confirmation, the government will also recruit another 500 teachers into the system.”
He added that the initiative is in line with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s education reform agenda, which seeks to reward hard work and tackle the shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in public primary and secondary schools across Edo State.
Highlighting the state government’s broader commitment to education, Dr. Iyamu revealed that more than 6,000 teachers have already been trained in digital and technical skills, including robotics and artificial intelligence. This is aimed at enhancing classroom delivery and equipping teachers with the tools to adapt to 21st-century learning methods.
“In less than one year, we have built over 68 schools and trained more than 6,000 teachers in digital learning tools,” he said. “We are not just building infrastructure; we are investing in people who will shape the future of our children.”
He also described the confirmation of the EdoStar teachers as a significant step in ending years of uncertainty for volunteer teachers who had worked without permanent status.
“Even an apprentice does not work for three years without confirmation. It’s only fair that we reward the commitment of these teachers,” the commissioner added.
In a move to promote the well-being of educators, Dr. Iyamu announced that the Edo State Government will, starting from 2026, designate every October 4 as “Teachers’ Fitness Day” to encourage healthy living among teachers.
“This will be a yearly event to focus on the health and wellness of our teachers, because when teachers are healthy and motivated, they perform better,” he said.
The teacher recruitment drive comes at a time when many states in Nigeria are struggling with inadequate staffing in public schools, especially in rural areas. Many schools are overcrowded, under-resourced, and lack qualified teachers.
Edo State’s latest move is seen as a significant step toward improving the education system and ensuring that pupils, especially in underserved communities, have access to quality learning.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the development and praised the government’s efforts in recognising and empowering teachers.
