By Victoria Okpanachi
Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones has cautioned school heads especially proprietors of private institutions gainst engaging in acts capable of sabotaging the School Census programme of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Hon. Wemi Jones handed down the warning to school heads at the Sensitisation of Education Stakeholders meeting for the 2024/2025 Annual School Census (ASC) exercise, held on Thursday in Lokoja.
According to him, the annual census was a vital exercise designed to help chart the path to educational success in the state.
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The Commissioner, who underscored the importance of accurate data for effective planning and development, stated that the census exercise would enable the government to make informed decisions for the advancement of education in the state.
He noted that government has made significant investments in the educational sector and in order to sustain them, it was important to have reliable and up-to-date data.
Hon. Jones used the forum to call on all school heads to cooperate with the relevant authorities for the success of the exercise, emphasising that the programme was not in any intended to witch-hunt anyone.
He equally warned that the enumerators were not permitted to charge any fee as government has made adequate provision for the entire exercise.
The Commissioner then appreciated Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for prioritising education by consistently maintaining the allocation of 30 percent of the state’s budget to the sector which he noted has contributed immensely to the massive development.
“In addition, the state government has also covered the cost of all external examinations for public schools amounting to over ₦1.3billion”, he further added.
In his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Abdullahi Abdulmalik, called for greater synergy and cooperation amongst stakeholders to ensure the seamless execution of the exercise, describing education planning without adequate data as troops gearing up for battle without adequate preparation.
On the importance of accurate data for planning, the Director of Educational Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Animoku Elizabeth, emphasised that reliable data was crucial for developing and refining educational policies that are responsive to the needs of both learners and teachers.
According to her, the initiative will equip stakeholders with vital information necessary for effective and timely planning.
She stressed that It will also facilitate the management of student numbers and provide a clearer understanding of the specific needs of schools across the state, including the issue of out-of-school children.
Dr. Animoku pointed out that precise data on school enrolment, teacher numbers, and available facilities would ensure that resources are allocated effectively.
In their goodwill messages, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board, Mallam Abdulrazak Muhammed, and the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Senior Secondary Education Board, Dr. Habiba Suleiman, both pledged their boards’ full cooperation for the successful completion of the census exercise.
