Annual Census: Bauchi Govt To Shut Down Private Schools Without Database

Bauchi State government has warned that any private school which fails to provide accurate and reliable data for the 2024/2025 Annual School Census (ASC) will face permanent closure.

The commissioner for Education, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim, gave the warning during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on the dissemination of the state education strategic plan (SESP) and the 2024/2025 annual school census, held at the Medical and Health Workers’ Secretariat in Bauchi yesterday.

He said the annual school census is aimed at generating credible data to support effective planning, evidence-based policymaking, and improved service delivery across the state’s education sector.

The commissioner dismissed speculations that private schools submitting accurate information would be subjected to additional taxes or revenue charges, stressing that the exercise is purely for educational planning and not revenue generation.

According to him, the census remains a critical tool for collecting reliable information on school enrolment, infrastructure, teachers, and learning facilities, enabling the government to make informed decisions and improve the quality of education.

Alhaji Ibrahim emphasised that the state government is committed to ensuring that every school, whether public or private, participates in the exercise, noting that all schools have a vital role in delivering quality education.

According to him, such data will enable the government to make informed decisions and improve service delivery across the education sector. He urged school proprietors and school managers to provide accurate and timely information to census officials.

He described the state education strategic plan (SESP) as a roadmap for sustainable educational development, outlining the state’s priorities and strategies to expand access to quality education and improve learning outcomes.

Presenting a paper on the State Education Strategic Plan (SESP) 2024–2030: Vision, Priorities and Strategic Objectives, the UNICEF Focal Officer at the State Ministry of Education, Hajiya Sa’adatu Usman, said the framework is a ten-year blueprint designed to guarantee equal access to quality education for both boys and girls across Bauchi State.

She noted that the strategic plan and the annual school census would enable the government to take proactive decisions and sustain investments in the education sector.

Sa’adatu added that copies of the strategic plan would be distributed to education secretaries across the state for wider dissemination and effective implementation at the grassroots.

She explained that the stakeholders’ engagement was jointly organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Education and UNICEF to strengthen education planning and implementation.

She said the collaboration between UNICEF and the Ministry would enhance the successful implementation of both the strategic plan and the annual school census.

In separate goodwill messages, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, represented by the Dan Kaden Bauchi, Alhaji Mahmoud Yakubu; the UBEC Zonal Director, Mallam Abdullahi Jarma; Charity Solomon of the Young Leaders Network; and other stakeholders commended the Bauchi State Government and UNICEF for their sustained commitment to improving education in the state.

The event brought together Education Secretaries, officials of the Bauchi State Agency for Mass Education (BASAME), the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Nomadic Education Programme, the Association of Private Schools, the Association of Modern Islamic Schools, and other key stakeholders.

Participants reviewed the objectives of the State Education Strategic Plan and the Annual School Census. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting initiatives that will strengthen education planning, promote sustainable development, and secure a brighter future for children across Bauchi state.