Designing a School Map for Expanding Public Primary Schools in Osun State, Nigeria (2018-2022)

This study identified the location of existing public primary schools in Osun State, Nigeria, investigated the school age population of the study area, and projected the expected school age population between 2018 and 2022 by using the existing data. The study also estimated the number of classrooms that would be required and designed a school map between 2018 and 2022 for the study area. These were with a view to designing a school map for Osun State public primary schools by the year 2022. The study adopted descriptive survey design with a focus on a population of 1,205 public elementary schools, 1,205 head teachers across the three senatorial districts of Osun State, Nigeria, a sample of 30 public primary schools using simple random sampling technique, while 30 head teachers using total enumeration sampling technique. The results showed the location of the existing schools on the geographical maps of the local government areas (LGAs) for the study as supplied by National Population Commission (NPC) through Osun State Planning Commission Oshogbo. The projected school age populations in 2022 were 35,690, 32,530, 24,900, 23,710, 37,320, and 31,550 respectively for Ife Central, Ife North, Ede North, Ede South, Irepodun, and Orolu LGAs. Projected enrolments in 2022 will require 566, 495, 524, 525, 476, and 395 classrooms in these areas. Osun State would require 230, 276, 287, 337, 255, and 170 classrooms in these areas in 2022. The study recommended, among others, that Osun State government should be prepared to host quite a number of pupils in the educational enterprise by 2022, and ensure the supply of sufficient facilities to match the projected enrolments for 2022 to avoid deficiencies and wastage.