Cross River Targets Credible Data As 2025/2026 Annual School Census Begins

By NSAN NDOMA-NEJI, Calabar 

The Cross River State Government on Monday flagged off the 2025/2026 Annual School Census, reaffirming its commitment to data-driven planning and sustainable development in the education sector.

Performing the flag-off on behalf of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey Esq., directed Education Secretaries, Executive Secretaries, EMIS Officers, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), NAPPS, ANCOPSS, AOPSHON, and other education stakeholders across the 18 Local Government Areas to immediately commence the exercise.

Professor Odey commended stakeholders for the state’s outstanding performance in the previous Annual School Census and challenged them to surpass that achievement. 

He stated that "credible and reliable data remain essential for effective educational planning, informed policymaking, equitable resource allocation, and attracting support from development partners, including the World Bank."

He further explained that the Federal Ministry of Education’s digital monitoring platform provides real-time tracking of each state’s progress, emphasizing that every Local Government Area must ensure the "timely and accurate upload of census data."

The Commissioner warned that there would be "no room for negligence or poor performance," adding that all officers involved would be held accountable for the successful implementation of the exercise. 

He urged both public and private school operators to cooperate fully, assuring them that the data is "solely for educational planning and development purposes, not for punitive measures."

Senator Odey reaffirmed the People First administration of Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s commitment to strengthening the education sector through accountability, collaboration, and evidence-based planning, calling on all stakeholders to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise across the state