GIS as a Tool for Education Decision Support System: A Demonstration with Public Primary Schools in Zaria City Kaduna State Nigeria

This paper aimed at demonstrating the use of GIS in the display of data about primary
schools in the walled part of Zaria city, Kaduna State. It is hoped that the database and its graphic
display in maps will guide decision making at the primary education level in the study area.
Coordinates of the schools were obtained with a handheld GPS receiver, while their attribute data
were obtained from the local education authority and triangulated with questionnaires
administered to the headmasters of the schools. ArcGIS 9.2 version software was used for buffer
zone (1 km). The result indicates that there are 31 public primary schools in the study area.
The oldest was established in 1921 and the latest in 2007. Graphic displays of some attributes of the
schools were produced. The buffer zones produced suggest no pupil walks more than a kilometer to
reach school. It is recommended that in the future, GIS tools should be applied when managing
school data. Capacities to achieve this should be developed.