Demographic information sources and utilization as determinants of educational policy making in South Western Nigeria

Belau Olatunde Gbadamosi

Abstract

The paper examines demographic information sources and utilization as determinants of educational policy making in South West Nigeria. Using validated and structured questionnaire, the study population of 398 officers in the ministries of education in the affected states were enumerated. The study establishes population census, vital registration, sample survey and internally generated technique as main sources of demographic information. The study also establishes demographic characteristics of religion, age/date of birth, sex, tribe, family type and home location which are injected into the process of education policy making in South West Nigeria. The utilization of demographic information is capable of assisting policy makers to evolve effective education policies at all levels of education. The study also finds out that general sources of information like Internet, radio/television, colleagues and reference books are consulted in the course of searching for demographic data. Appropriate recommendations are made to address some emerging challenges.