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Data Standards

Methodology & Data Standards

How EduSpendNG collects, calculates, presents and corrects education financing and census data.

Core Principle

Every figure on EduSpendNG carries a source, reporting period and update date. We distinguish between approved allocations, releases, expenditure, outputs and outcomes. We are transparent about what we know, what we estimate, and what we do not yet have.

How Budget Release Performance Is Calculated

  • The approved budget figure is taken from the state appropriation act for the relevant fiscal year.
  • Releases are sourced from the Bauchi State Ministry of Finance quarterly disbursement records.
  • Release rate = (cumulative releases to date) ÷ (total approved budget) × 100.
  • Expected quarterly benchmark: 25% per quarter (i.e., linear 100% by year end).
  • Performance categories are relative to this benchmark — institutions are not penalised for above-expected performance.

How Expected Quarterly Performance Is Interpreted

  • No Release: 0% released in the reporting period.
  • Very Low: Below 10% of the quarterly benchmark (i.e., below 2.5% of annual budget in Q1).
  • Low: 10–70% of benchmark.
  • Moderate: 70–95% of benchmark.
  • On Track: 95–120% of benchmark.
  • Above Expected: Above 120% of benchmark.

How Annual School Census Data Is Processed

  • EduSpendNG uses SUBEB's Annual School Census as the primary data source.
  • We do not independently collect school-level data — we analyse and interpret officially published census data.
  • Indicators are calculated using standard education statistics formulas (NER, GER, GPI, PTR, PCR).
  • Private school data is excluded unless explicitly noted.
  • LGA-level figures are based on reported returns from LGEAs — not all LGAs have complete data.

How EduSpendNG Distinguishes Key Terms

  • Allocation: The budget amount approved in the appropriation act.
  • Release: Funds transferred from the consolidated revenue fund to an MDA's account.
  • Expenditure: Funds actually spent by an institution. (Not tracked in current version — data not publicly available.)
  • Output: Physical or service deliverables resulting from expenditure.
  • Outcome: Changes in learner or system conditions attributable to education investment.

How Correlation Differs from Contribution and Causation

  • EduSpendNG presents correlations between financing and education indicators — we do not claim causal relationships unless supported by independent evaluation evidence.
  • Budget releases increasing alongside enrolment growth does not prove the releases caused the growth.
  • We use language like 'associated with', 'consistent with' and 'alongside' rather than 'caused by'.

How Corrections and Revisions Are Managed

  • When a figure is found to be incorrect, a visible revision note is added to the relevant page.
  • Revision notes include: date of correction, original value, corrected value, and reason.
  • Figures are not silently updated — historical corrections remain visible.
  • To report a discrepancy, use the Report a Data Issue form.

Mandatory Data Citation Fields

Original sourceSUBEB ASC, Ministry of Finance, appropriation act
Reporting year/periodAcademic year or fiscal year and quarter
Date retrieved/receivedDate EduSpendNG received or accessed the data
GeographyState, LGA or national
Unit and denominatore.g. Learners, Schools, ₦ Millions
Method of calculationFormula and any assumptions
Data statusApproved, reported, provisional, estimated or independently verified
Known limitationsCoverage gaps, estimation methods, caveats
Last updatedDate of most recent data update on EduSpendNG

Report a Discrepancy

If you believe a figure on EduSpendNG is incorrect, we want to know. Use the form below or contact us directly.

Report a Data Issue