A new report released by the National Education Demographic Survey (NEDS) has ranked Cross River State high on quality and access to education as the state’s number increased within the last three years.

The research conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC), in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which was released recently, indicated that the state improved in terms of access and quality of education within the period. Speaking at the unveiling of the new census figures on education, the Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Godwin Ettah, who represented the Committee of Commissioners for Education, said: “Data collection is very important; having looked at it, I think there are some areas that need polishing.

“The implementation status needs to be changed at the time or where data is collected and presented and made available for use. The performance of Cross River State is very good, I will say even the previous projects started long time ago from the administration of Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, the present governor is bringing them alive, the achievement of the past governors and even since the new governor came, he has moved our ranking up through his policies. “If you check the national ranking, we have moved up by seven places, I am not saying we are in the seventh position, but we have moved up from where we were before to a new position, which is better.”

He explained that the new data would spur state governments to do more on education in the areas of funding, accessibility and quality of education, with focus on better outcomes. Ettah stated that all commissioners for education in the country are expected to study the new NEDS figures and come up with modalities that would better position education in their respective states.