FG, UNESCO review annual school census tools, manuals

The Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) are to review the Annual School Census (ASC) tools and implementation manuals in line with global trends and the SDGs. This was made known at a three-day workshop for relevant stakeholders in selected states and education sector to review of the ASC instrument and implementation manuals on Wednesday in Abuja. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew David-Adejo, said “ASC helps the education sector by generating data on the number of schools by level, learners, staff, classrooms, books and facilities.” David-Adejo, represented by Mr Zubairu Abdullahi, therefore, urged the participants to contributes towards producing a reviewed instruments and manual in line with global best practices.

” I look forward to the report of this workshop, especially as Nigeria really needs to improve on the credibility of data on OutOf-School-Children,” he said. He also expressed appreciation to UNESCO for their support in the education sector, especially in the conduct of ASC to ensure Nigeria has the appropriate tools to use.

Also, Mr Mamadou Lamine-Sow, Head of Education Sector, UNESCO Abuja Regional Office, said the exercise aim at collecting accurate, reliable and timely data from schools.

“It is the primary source of education data in any country. Data provides the statistical evidence for a majority if not all the education sector’s policies, plans, strategies, decisions and distribution of resources.

“One of the objectives of this workshop is to review our annual school census tools to be that 21stcentury tool we all want it to be and to capture most of the SDG4 indicators. “With this alone, there will not be anything like no data or blank spaces when it comes to reporting globally such as with UNESCO Institute for Statistics,” he said.

Lamine-Sow, represented by Mrs Ngozi Amanze, UNESCO’s National Programme Officer, said they would also be reviewing the indicators for school health and child well-being to promote positive development and healthy behaviours in children.

“It is important that we strengthen the capacity of the school health system to provide conducive environment for physical, mental and social wellbeing of young people and to achieve SDG 4 and the health-related SDGs.

“Also, to prepare learners to thrive, learn and build healthy and peaceful sustainable futures for all,” he said.

He said the workshop would educate school heads and teachers on the new integrations to the ASC tools, reduce the complexity of completing the questionnaires and improve the understanding of the school administrators to efficiently complete the assignment. He reiterated the commitment of UNESCO towards supporting the education system, adding that the workshop was part of UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme. Also, Mr Adeleye Adeoye, Director, Educational Planning Research and Development (EPR &D), said the workshop will lead to the production of reviewed ASC Instruments and Manual for proper planning, decision making and policy implementation Adeoye, represented by Mrs Olayiwola Jawon, added that it would also guide school Heads and EMIS Desk Officers in the school, to accurately complete the ASC questionnaires.

A participant, Prof. Toun Akinsolu, Federal Adviser, USAID Learn to Read, said the exercise would aide in having a credible and reliable data for educational planning, through the use of ASC, a reliable instrument.

” The review is apt because the society itself is dynamic and because of the dynamism of the society, we need to move with recent trends and emerging issues that is what necessitated this review.

” This is the second phase, the first phase was held in December 2022, we made a lot of inputs into all the various characteristics of the instrument so that we can make it more robust and holistic.

” So, that all data necessary for planning purposes and for educational reportage at the national level will be adequately captured,” she said. She added that new policies like the

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Ayouth organisation under the auspices Rescue Nigeria Mission (RENMISS) has endorsed Dr.Umar Ardo, the Adamawa state SDP gubernatorial candidate as their preferred gubercandidate for 2023 election.

State Cordinator of the Organisation,Uwais Adamu Barkido disclosed their position in Yola yesterday at a special statewide meeting, stressing that the quest of the movement was to create awareness among Nigerians on the need to elect good leaders.

Barkido said their Association was to ensure credible people are allowed to occupy various elective positions for the development of the society.

Barkido announced that after a thorough observation and screening of most of the gubernatorial candidates, the organisation found Dr.Ardo to be the most qualified and suitable for the job.

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Following the Supreme Court judgement that halted the ban on the use of old Naira notes which the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has vowed to enforce on February 10, 2023, there was a mixed reaction from the residents on the judgment.

Investigation by this reporter revealed that most respondents in Kaduna town are divided in their opinions.

Alhaji Umar Abubakar, a trader in the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi market opined that as a welcome development, saying in the past three days everything has come to a standstill for him.

According to him, customers have stopped coming and those who came to purchase few materials and those who are willing to make transfer cannot because of the network problem.

Similarly, Madam Ruth Auta a fruit seller at the popular station market said the Supreme Court judgment is ‘God sent rescue’ for the masses owing to the hardship wrecked by the Naira redesign policy.

She explained that for 3 days, most of her perishable goods spoiled because of low patronage.

She therefore appealed to the federal government and the apex bank to obey the judgment.

However, Mr. Mohammed Mohammed is of a different opinion, saying it is not yet Uhuru for the judgment.

According to him, the apex bank cannot be sued because the CBN act is an independent statutory body and does not take directive from anybody including the federal government.

He added that the failure to join CBN in the suit at the apex court is fatal.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday, February 8 temporarily stopped the withdrawal of old Naira Notes from Feb 10.

A seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, halted the move in a ruling in an exparte application brought by three northern states of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara.