Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, has led a delegation from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) on a courtesy and working visit to the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu. The purpose of this visit was to discuss the Pilot Register-Based Education Statistics Project, an innovative initiative aimed at modernizing the production of education statistics in Ghana through the use of secure administrative data.
The meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Statistical Service, and the National Identification Authority (NIA), highlighting our collective dedication to enhancing the national data ecosystem for education.
Dr. Alhassan articulated their vision, which is both straightforward and ambitious: to transition from costly, periodic data collection methods to a system that allows for the continuous production of high-quality education statistics derived from reliable administrative records.
He emphasized that this initiative will enable Ghana to address essential questions in real time: Who is learning? Where are they located? What subjects are they studying? In which district and region do they reside?
He noted that the pilot project will establish a framework for a future where every child can be monitored from their initial enrollment in school through higher education and into the workforce. This will empower governments to enhance planning, allocate teachers more efficiently, identify students at risk of dropping out, distribute resources equitably, and ensure that no learner is overlooked. Once validated in the education sector, this methodology can also facilitate improved statistics and planning in health, labor, social protection, and various other sectors, thereby reinforcing Ghana’s overall national statistical system.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Hon. Haruna Iddrisu for his unwavering support of the project. We are especially thankful for his agreement to our essential requests, including his willingness to chair the Project Steering Committee, which provides the necessary high-level leadership to propel this significant national initiative. His dedication conveys a strong message that data-driven decision-making will continue to be pivotal in transforming Ghana’s education sector,” he stated on Facebook following the visit.
Dr. Alhassab also conveyed his gratitude to the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NHIA), who was represented by his deputy and team, for their collaboration and mutual commitment to establishing an integrated national data system that benefits the public.
“As we progress with this initiative, I want to reassure all Ghanaians that data protection, privacy, and confidentiality are paramount. Personal records will be securely safeguarded. Only the essential data required for statistical purposes will be utilized, in strict adherence to the Statistical Service Act and the Data Protection Act. Individual information will never be published or disclosed,” he emphasized.
He further asserted that this project transcends mere statistics. It aims to ensure that every decision regarding schools, teachers, infrastructure, and educational investments is informed by timely, accurate, and reliable evidence.
“Together, we are establishing the groundwork for a Ghana where every child is valued, every learner is acknowledged, and every decision is supported by high-quality data,” he concluded.
