Edo Best: Separating Lies from Truth
By Hon. Ajanaku Alexander
In a time when many jobless journalists are scrambling for relevance, a plethora of articles serve as a means to catch the attention of the government in hopes of gaining patronage. With this in mind, it is important to dissect the facade of assumptions put forth by certain individuals in order to gain favor with the government of Edo State.
Recently, there has been ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness of Edo Best in Edo State. While supporters of Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo have criticized the achievements of Edo Best, those who have actually participated in the program attest to its importance and relevance in Edo State. It is crucial to provide an objective viewpoint on Edo Best.
First and foremost, what is Edo Best? Edo Best stands for Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation, aiming to transform the basic education sector in Edo State. The program, funded by the World Bank, seeks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in basic education in Edo State, particularly in terms of infrastructure and community-driven initiatives to boost the educational system in the state.
From its inception, the program focused on improving teaching and learning for students. This led to the introduction of teacher computers to promote consistency and quality in student education. This initiative was successfully implemented across the state, with teachers trained on utilizing tablets for teaching purposes.
It is worth noting that the Lagos State Government adopted a similar program modeled after Edo Best, which is now hailed as a success in Lagos State.
It is essential for fair-weather journalists to recognize the importance of the Edo Best program and encourage the Governor of Edo State to embrace digitally empowered education programs like Edo Best, in order to adapt to the changing landscape of education in the age of AI, rather than discarding the program entirely.
While former Governor Godwin Obaseki may have faced challenges in the implementation of Edo Best, Governor Monday Okpebholo should carefully evaluate the program’s strengths and weaknesses before making any decisions about its future.
In a recent interview, Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo mentioned that Edo State is now comparable to Lagos State, suggesting that any program originating from Edo State, such as Edo Best, should be continued and even emulated by other states.
While Edo Best may not be flawless, and Governor Obaseki may have fallen short in terms of educational infrastructure, the digitalization aspect of the program is worth preserving and building upon.
In conclusion, it is recommended that Governor Monday Okpebholo consider the merits of the Edo Best program and make informed decisions rather than succumbing to the baseless assumptions of opportunistic journalists seeking government favor.
Ajanaku Alexander is a strategic communication researcher at Federal University Oye Ekiti.
