The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) has commended the Kano State Government and the Kano State Ministry of Education for emerging as the first among states supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF to successfully conduct and publicly disseminate the 2024/2025 Annual School Census (ASC).
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary K-SAFE, Abdussalam Muhammad Kani,made available to newsmen.
The commendation followed the official dissemination of the report organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with development partners, education stakeholders, and civil society organisations.
K-SAFE described the achievement as a significant milestone in strengthening evidence-based planning and accountability within the education sector. According to the forum, the timely completion and dissemination of the census demonstrates the commitment of the Kano State Government to transparency, data-driven governance, and improved education service delivery.
The forum noted that reliable education data remains the foundation for effective policy formulation, strategic planning, and sustainable reforms within the sector.
K-SAFE also highlighted a distinctive feature of the Kano State Annual School Census, describing the exercise as unique and inclusive. Unlike many education data exercises that focus primarily on formal schools, the 2024/2025 census captured data from non-formal education centres, thereby providing a more comprehensive picture of learning opportunities across the state.
By incorporating non-formal learning centres into the census framework, the state government demonstrated a progressive approach to education data management, ensuring that learners outside the conventional school system are also considered in education planning and intervention programmes.
According to the forum, inclusive data collection is crucial in addressing key education challenges in Nigeria, particularly the large population of out-of-school children. It explained that integrating non-formal education centres into the census will enable policymakers and development partners to better understand learning patterns across both formal and alternative education systems.
K-SAFE added that the development would support targeted interventions aimed at expanding access to quality education for all children.
The forum also commended the collaborative efforts of the Kano State Ministry of Education, development partners, civil society organisations, and international agencies whose contributions ensured the successful conduct and dissemination of the exercise.
It particularly acknowledged the technical and institutional support provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund, which helped strengthen the state’s capacity to undertake the census effectively and in line with national education data standards.
According to the forum, the partnership between government institutions and development stakeholders reflects a shared commitment to improving education outcomes and strengthening governance in the sector.
While applauding the state government for the achievement, K-SAFE stressed that the true value of the census lies in the effective utilisation of the data generated.
The forum therefore urged policymakers and relevant institutions to ensure that the findings from the census inform education policy development, budget planning, teacher deployment, infrastructure expansion, and programme implementation across the state.