President Bola Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Census of Schools, Teachers Nationwide
By: Emmanuel Ibitoye
President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive for an extensive census to be conducted across all levels of education in Nigeria, aimed at obtaining accurate data to guide planning and interventions in the education sector. The directive, issued on Thursday, mandates the collection of data on all schools from primary to tertiary level, including details on infrastructure, facilities, teacher qualifications, student demographics, and exam performance.
Under the policy initiative named DOTS (Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training and Development, and Skill Development and Acquisition), the Federal Ministry of Education, led by Mamman Tahir, will play a key role in hosting a portal or dashboard to collate and disseminate the gathered information. This comprehensive approach seeks to overhaul the education sector, improve learning outcomes, boost enrollment rates, and ensure the academic welfare of Nigerian children.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the census will provide vital insights to guide federal and state interventions, particularly in teacher training, development, and support. It will also facilitate real-time monitoring of student progress, enabling targeted interventions for out-of-school children, girls, and those with specific learning needs. The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing the education sector and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all Nigerian children.
The Federal Ministry of Education is already implementing government policies through its agencies, with approximately two million beneficiaries recorded.
