To address the lack of accurate data in Nigeria’s education sector, President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to conduct a thorough census aimed at identifying areas of concern and facilitating effective planning.
The directive, given on Thursday, aims to gather information on all schools in Nigeria ranging from primary to tertiary levels, including their current conditions, facilities, proximity to one another, and infrastructure.
Furthermore, it will assess the total number of teachers in the country, their qualifications, training received, student populations in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, gender distribution, exam performance, and other relevant aspects.
The Federal Ministry of Education, overseen by Mamman Tahir, will lead this initiative by establishing a portal to store and disseminate the collected data.
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity outlined the policy DOTS – Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training and Development, and Skill Development and Acquisition – which aims to overhaul the education sector comprehensively. Its goals include enhancing learning and skill development, increasing enrollment, and ensuring the academic well-being of Nigerian children.
The gathered information will guide federal and state-level efforts in teacher training, development, and support, as well as providing insights into students’ gender distribution, special educational needs, and dropout rates.
A dedicated portal will be set up at the Federal Ministry of Education, state governor offices, and local government chairpersons’ offices to allow real-time monitoring of the consolidated data by the relevant authorities.
This data tracking system will facilitate evidence-based interventions, especially for out-of-school children, particularly girls, and those with specific learning challenges.
Regarding out-of-school children’s education and training challenges, the Federal Ministry of Education reported that it is already implementing the government’s policy through the activities of four agencies, benefitting approximately two million individuals.