Location-Allocation Model for Optimising School Placement in Argungu Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria: A Geospatial Approach to Reducing Out-Of-School Children

Nigeria faces a critical challenge with out-of-school children (OOSC), particularly in northern states where Kebbi State records some of the highest numbers. The spatial distribution of educational facilities significantly influences school access and attendance rates. This study demonstrates how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and location-allocation modelling can transform policy decision-making by enabling evidence-based, spatially optimised resource allocation to reduce OOSC. We used public primary schools in Argungu LGA, Kebbi State, a region with persistently high OOSC rates, as a case study. We analysed 208 settlements and 65 existing schools to assess spatial accessibility against Nigerian UBE guidelines (3km threshold). We then applied a maximal covering location problem (MCLP) algorithm to identify optimal sites for five new schools. The findings reveal spatial inequity; only 85.1% of settlements lie within 3km of a school, leaving a significant proportion of school-age children (14.9%) as OOSC due to distance alone. A strategic placement of five optimally sited new schools increases coverage to 95.7%, bringing an additional children within acceptable walking distance and reducing the OOSC population. For policy decision-making, GIS-based location-allocation offers a cost-effective pathway to reducing OOSC. Adopting this approach enables policymakers to move from reactive, resource distribution to proactive, equitable, data-driven governance that delivers education to the children who need it most.