Developing education-based management system using geo-spatial analysis for selected secondary schools in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

In Nigeria, management of education-based system is still subject to manual method in most of the public secondary schools. This study, however, develops Education Management Information System (EMIS) using Geographic Information System to provide accurate, relevant and up-to-date information on spatial basis. The study further identifies spatial related information that includes; staff strength, student enrollment, school status and location of secondary schools in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Ilorin, Kwara State. The primary data for this study were sourced through Global Positioning System (GPS) that identified the spatial reference points of the secondary schools, while the use of interview schedule was employed to ask basic questions from the principal officers in the secondary schools. Secondary data include administrative map and road map of Kwara State. Arcview 3.3 was used for data analysis, where all the attributes of the secondary schools were linked to the spatial data. Results show that; (i) GPS identified eighteen secondary schools concentrated at the core centre of the study area, (ii) 80% of the schools are situated very close to the roads, which is an indication of easy accessibility, (iii) school status ranged between boarding and day with overall staff strength ranging between 41and 93, and total number of students ranging between 787 and 1982. The study concludes that Geographic Information System (GIS) is a sufficient tool for gathering and disseminating information at will. It is therefore recommended that regular updating of the GIS database through integration of education-based data will help in proper coordination of education sector and other related organization. Key words: Geographic Information System (GIS), school, education, Global Positioning System (GPS).