By joshua 
Kogi to Begin Annual School Census, Says Huge Investment in Education Sector, underscores administration’s desire to drive out poverty – Gov. Ododo
The Kogi State Government says it huge investment in the education sector, spending about N1.3billion in the payment of Examination fees for Students in public schools underscore it desire to use education drive. poverty out of the society.
The Kogi State Governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo made the disclosure in a keynote address, delivered at Kogi Education Stakeholders Sensitization Meeting
For the 2024/2025 Annual Schools Census, held at the Glasshouse of Government House, Lokoja.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones said his administration has made the management of scarce resources a priority, with Education taking a larger chunk of allocation, described the school census as a major area of interest for the State Government.
Gov. Ododo described the payment of WAEC, MOCK, JAMB, NABTEB, BECE, COMMON ENTRANCE, BASIC 6 Examination by the State Government at over N1.3b as his administration’s commitment towards easing the burden on parents and granting access to children to complete their education unhindered.
Gov. Ododo lamented that 75% of students failed this year’s JAMB examination, because it was CBT Examination, with Teachers also being blamed, expressed worry that with plan for WAEC, NECO examination now to be CBTE from next year, efforts he said is on to make Mock examination in Kogi State by next year to also be CBT, reason why it has become necessary for stakeholders to sit down and plan towards meeting with the global and National plans, urged schools to display high sense of honesty in the forthcoming school census.
The Governor described the Annual Schools Census as a Basic tool for planning the education sector, said without planning “we are going no where”, therefore called for maximum cooperation from stakeholders.
The Governor used the opportunity to call and appeal to private schools, not to see the annual school census as reason for tax and Levy purposes, assuring that with the right Data, their appeal for Government to intervene in the payment of Examination fees for their students and other support maybe considered with accurate data.
According to the Governor, “You have been clamouring to benefit from Government intervention. This is an opportunity if you provide accurate Data”, urged for cooperation with the enumerators.
“No enumerator is permitted to charge fee or ask schools to pay for forms. However, any private school that refuses to cooperate will be sanctioned, with a N200,000 fee as penalty or the school closed down”.
He assured that the MoE is open to partnership, disclosed that the Government is doing well at the tertiary institution level of education, adding that presently the State Government he said is building 9 Model science schools across the State.
He however noted that with the noticed challenges at the primary School level, there is the need for stakeholders to work hard towards ensuring that the University’s built by the State admits indigenes that are well equipped as students for a better society.
He mentioned that presently the focus by the Federal Government on education is Technical vocation and training, reduction in out of school children, encourage girl child education, quality assurance with improving the level and qualifications of teachers, skills acquisition and digitization, described the annual school census as a very important assignment the State must undertake with seriousness it deserves if it must key into the National objective on education.
Speaking, Hon. Abdullahi Abdulmalik, Special Adviser on Education, described the annual school census as one that provides reliable and real time data for meaningful planning for the specific needs of students and schools.
The Special Adviser added that the Census will provide reliable data on number of teachers, training needs, including number of out of school children.
The Data he added will be monitored through dedicated platforms in the State and by the federal government, described the census as one that is evidence base and as a driving tool for the improvement of the education sector, using available scarce resources.
Similarly, in her presentation on Concept of annual School Census/Data Collection by Dr. Animoku Ahman Elizabeth, Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Kogi State Ministry of Education, described the annual school census as one that is very crucial and help in forming the education landscape of the State.
Dr. Animoku equally added that the Census will provide statistics for planning and resource allocation, said the importance of the forthcoming school census cannot be overemphasized, pointing out that data is key.
The information gathered from the school census she added will be used for planning for education purposes, described data that will be gathered from the census as essential for defining education policies for learning and teachers as well as even distribution of resources.
Dr. Animoku added that the Data gathered from the census will help government know how to help vulnerable communities in providing information that help shape education policies by the state and Federal Government.
She said with accurate data, collection from schools, it will provide for learning infrastructure, sanitation and learning resources.
She described the expected Data as one that will be very key for policy makers. Improve education planning, academic performance and effective intervention by government.
Highlights gender gaps and inclusive policies.
No manipulation of figures, resistance from shareholders. Not purpose of taxation.
More than just a routine survey, well executed census leads to better school and well trained learners