THE Federal Government has admitted the enormous challenges besetting the education sector in Nigeria and has promised to undertake targeted interventions in order to resolve those emerging issues proactively.
Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, who said this vowed that effective monitoring mechanisms would be put in place to monitor progress in real time, while fostering transparency and accountability in resource allocation and policy implementation.
Alausa, who spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of the implementation committee for the Nigerian Education Data Initiative (NEDI), reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to reposition the Nigerian education sector as a beacon of excellence.
He lamented the fragmented and lack of comprehensive data in the education system in Nigeria.
According to him, one of the steps being taken was to establish a centralised and harmonised database with a unified platform that will consolidate all critical education data in the country.
The NEDI committee is chaired by the Minister of Education himself to underscore its imperative, while Mr Abubakar Isah of the Data and Digitalisation Unit (DDU) of the Ministry, would serve as Pro-Coordinator, alongside 23 other members drawn from different ministries and agencies of government.
Alausa noted that lack of unified and reliable data base overtime had impeded effective development of the sector, hence the need to change the narrative in order to reposition the Nigerian education system as a beacon of excellence.
He maintained that at its core, the data bank would not merely house information but serve as the foundation for evidence-based decision-making and policy development, enabling the government to deliver quality education that meets the aspirations of every Nigerian child
Alausa informed that the plan of the government was to build a robust Nigerian education data bank that provides a 360-degree view of the education system, saying this would consolidate records from primary school to tertiary institutions, leveraging the National Identity Number (NIN) as a unique identifier for every student.
He further highlighted numerous benefits of the initiative, stating that the framework would enable the government to track, in real-time, the educational journey of every Nigerian child, ensuring no one is left behind.
Alausa said: “For too long, our education system has been hindered by the absence of a unified and comprehensive data framework. It has been fragmented, inconsistent, with incomplete data, spread across various institutions, agencies and states.
“This has also impeded our ability to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and measure progress with accuracy. Today, we are saying unequivocally that this must change.
“The NEDI is our bold response to these longstanding challenges. Through it, we are embarking on an ambitious journey to establish a centralised, harmonised database with a unified platform that will consolidate all critical education data in Nigeria.
“At its core, this database will not merely house information but serve as the foundation for evidence-based decision-making and policy development, enabling us to deliver quality education that meets the aspirations of every Nigerian child,” the Minister stated.
He explained that key components of the data framework would include school locations and infrastructure as well as the availability of essential facilities such as the classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and ICT resources, which would guide strategic investments, particularly in underserved regions.
He listed other areas of focus to include, student information, parental data, teachers and educators, examination and assessment records, university and tertiary education data, school grading system and other key indicators such as funding sources, donor contributions, and statistics on non-formal education, will ensure a holistic view of the education sector.
“I urge you to approach this assignment with the utmost dedication, professionalism, and a sense of purpose. The future of Nigeria’s education system depends on your ability to deliver on this mandate.
“On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, I assure you of our unwavering commitment to this initiative. We will provide the necessary resources and institutional support to ensure that NEDI succeeds in transforming our education system,” the Minister added.
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Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad said the initiative is designed to address various challenges by establishing a centralised, secure, and robust data repository.
She added that the inauguration of the committee marked a significant milestone in the shared commitment to improving the quality of education and ensuring equitable access for all.
