Lagos begins annual schools’ census

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday began the 2014/2015 Annual School Census.

The State Commissioner for Education, Olayinka Oladunjoye, has urged principals and head teachers of public and private schools in the state to cooperate with enumerators in order to generate credible and timely data for the education sector in the state.

Oladunjoye, who gave the charge in Lagos on Wednesday at the formal flag off of the 2014/2015 Annual School Census Sensitization Programme for stakeholders in the education sector, noted that it is an exercise that is aimed at generating credible, dependable and usable data for multi-sectoral planning.

She averred that the sensitization programme was informed by the need to avoid the inconsistencies in data generation, particularly in past ASCs, hence the need to find a new approach to make the exercise more acceptable.

The Commissioner noted that as drivers of the ASC, principals and head teachers should cooperate with officials to produce credible data that would serve the need of the sector.

Oladunjoye said: “I therefore wish to urge all our stakeholders, especially our principals and head teachers, who are the drivers of the Annual School Census, to produce credible and timely data for the education Sector.

“Hitherto, inconsistencies of data, care-free attitude to data collection and non-remittance of timely returns have characterised the attitudes of the stakeholders.

“Thus I appeal to you all to turn a new leaf by embracing efficient data generation that is worthy of the efforts and usable across board.”

Oladunjoye reaffirmed the state government’s resolve to embrace credible data as a tool for effective planning and sound decision making process, adding that all hands must be on deck in order to ensure that a credible, reliable and usable data for the education sector is delivered thereby making a success of the exercise.

She said: “I appeal to our principals and head teachers to be available to attend to the enumerators; make all records available, including statutory records, administrative records and teaching records among others; provide access for the enumeration facilities, equipment and on-the-spot headcount of staff and students; create adequate time for the enumerators’ visit; and volunteer correct and faithful information.”