The Kwara State Government has commenced a detailed school census aimed at generating accurate and reliable data to enhance effective planning and policy formulation in the education sector.
This commitment was affirmed by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with Education Management Information System (EMIS) officials representing all 16 Local Government Areas. The meeting took place on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Ilorin.
Opening the session, Dr. Olohungbebe highlighted the critical role of credible data in driving educational reforms and sustainable development. He praised the dedication of all stakeholders involved in the exercise.
Citing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Commissioner stressed, “Our administration is determined to ensure every education policy is founded on credible data. Without reliable statistics, informed decisions and effective planning are impossible.”
Dr. Olohungbebe also called on school heads to fully cooperate with EMIS officials by providing timely and accurate data, while cautioning against admitting students beyond school capacity. He commended the Governor for his consistent support and proactive interventions in education.
In his goodwill message, Professor Raheem Adaramaja, Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), emphasized the pivotal role of EMIS in strengthening the school system and noted that the discussions would improve data collection efforts across the state.
Mrs. Olanrewaju Rebecca Bake, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, recognized the importance of stakeholder collaboration for comprehensive data coverage. She encouraged participants to share experiences and adopt best practices to ensure the success of the 2024/2025 school census.
Mallam Adeshina Azeez, Director of Education Planning, Research and Development, revealed that the upcoming EMIS exercise would combine analogue and digital tools to boost the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of data gathering.
The meeting brought together key representatives from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Kwara State Bureau of Statistics, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), SUBEB, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), and the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), demonstrating broad commitment to credible education data in Kwara State.