By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State government has taken a step toward digitalising its education sector with the upcoming launch of the Benue Education Portal, aimed at improving data management and transparency.
The initiative was unveiled during a critical stakeholders’ meeting on the 2024/2025 Annual School Census, convened by the State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Rev. Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, in Makurdi on Thursday.
Addressing stakeholders at the State Planning Commission Conference Hall, Dr Ikyaan emphasised the crucial role of accurate and reliable data in effective educational planning and decision-making.
He stated that resource allocation, policy formulation, and strategic interventions depend on the availability of precise data. He therefore called for full cooperation from education officers, school administrators, and stakeholders to make the initiative a success.
“The time for hiding information has passed. We must embrace transparency and accountability in our education system. This census is not just about numbers; it is about ensuring that every child in Benue State has access to quality education backed by data-driven policies,” Ikyaan declared.
The 2024/2025 Annual School Census will be unique, covering a three-year period to bridge existing data gaps and establish a comprehensive planning framework. A key feature of the initiative is the Benue Education Portal, which seeks to replace outdated manual systems with an efficient digital platform for managing educational data.
To ensure a smooth transition, Ikyaan outlined several mandatory requirements for schools, which he listed to include; that every school must have at least one internet-enabled device, such as a laptop, to access the portal; that schools must appoint two focal persons to manage the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and ensure data accuracy as well as all schools management systems must be configured at the EMIS office before deployment to ensure security and compatibility.
He expressed optimism that these measures would enhance efficiency in school administration and position Benue State as a leader in national education data management.
“We have suffered setbacks in the past, but with the structures we are putting in place, Benue State will take its rightful place at the forefront of education data management in Nigeria,” he assured.
A key highlight of the meeting was a train-the-trainer workshop designed to equip participants with skills to train school focal persons.
He tasked Area Education Officers with coordinating training at the local government level, while he also urged private school proprietors to ensure full participation.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr Terpase Kundam, a consultant on education management, lauded the simplicity and efficiency of the process.
He noted that once the school census is completed, the portal will be fully populated with data, making school information easily accessible to students, parents, teachers, researchers, and NGOs.
“The portal has been designed and tested. Now, the only task left is data collection. Once that is done, anyone can access information about schools in Benue State at the click of a button,” Kundam stated.
The Permanent Secretary for Basic Education, Mrs. Bibiana Tyoishi, also welcomed the initiative, highlighting its role in bridging the digital literacy gap among teachers and school administrators. She noted that many candidates failed the recent State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) recruitment exam due to a lack of computer skills.
“This is a turning point. From now on, everything will be digital. Teachers and education officers will be trained to work with online systems, and there will be no going back to manual methods. Even when governments change, this system will remain. It is the way forward,” she affirmed.
During a live demonstration of the Benue Education Portal, Mr. John Adeyemi, the system’s programmer, explained that the platform serves multiple users, including students, parents, school administrators, and policymakers.
The portal, he said, allows parents to track their children’s academic progress, attendance, and performance, while it offers school administrators to manage student records more efficiently, and education authorities to make data-driven decisions in real time.
On data protection, Mr. Jeremiah Atii, the Data Centre Manager at the Ministry of Education, reassured stakeholders that the system adheres to global data protection standards and incorporates robust security measures, including two-factor authentication.
“Parents can only access their children’s records, and no unauthorized person can view confidential school data. This system is designed to prevent data breaches and ensure the integrity of our education records,” he stated.
Expressing support for the initiative, Hon. Sunday Ojoh, Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), urged all stakeholders to remain committed to the program and avoid past trends where similar projects were abandoned after initial enthusiasm.
“We must remain committed to this initiative. If we let it fail, we will go back to a broken system that lacks accountability. Digitalization is the future, and we must not turn back,” he warned.
With the Benue Education Portal set to revolutionize data management in schools, stakeholders left the meeting with a renewed sense of purpose. The commitment to accurate data collection and digital transformation is expected to lay the groundwork for an improved education system in Benue State, built on transparency, efficiency, and accessibility for all.
