Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, has urged stakeholders in the education sector to support the ministry’s efforts in ensuring the success of the 2024/2025 Annual School Census Exercise.
He appealed on Thursday in Lokoja during a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the exercise.
The Commissioner, who emphasised the importance of accurate data in the planning and development of education, said the exercise would make the government plan well for the development of education in the state.
He noted that the State Government had made considerable investments in education, and to sustain and expand on the foundation that had been laid, there was a need to have accurate data.
He appealed to private schools to grant access to enumerators during the exercise, noting that the data collected would enable the state government to develop and implement education policies that reflect their needs.
The Commissioner warned that any school that refused to cooperate with the ministry would be severely sanctioned.
He praised the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for giving sufficient attention to education. He added that the continuing allocation of 30% of the State Budget to education has contributed immensely to the massive development in education.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Abdullahi Abdulmalik, emphasised the need for synergy and cooperation to ensure a smooth exercise. He noted that education planning without accurate data is like going into battle unprepared.
In their goodwill messages, the Executive Chairman of Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board, Mallam Abdulrazak Muhammed and the Executive Chairman of Kogi State Senior Secondary Education Board, Dr. Habiba Suleiman, promised the cooperation of the Boards to the successful completion of the exercise.
Speaking on the importance of accurate data to planning, the Director of Educational Planning Research and Statistics, Ministry of Education, Dr Animoku Ahman Elizabeth, said accurate data is crucial for the development and refining of education policies that are responsive to the needs of learners and teachers.
She noted that accurate data on school enrollment, teachers’ numbers and facilities would help ensure resources are distributed effectively.
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