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Aligning Pacific education data systems with global standards
The Pacific Community (SPC) and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) convened a regional capacity-building workshop to strengthen the quality of education data and its role in shaping informed policy decisions across the Pacific. This workshop, held in Nadi in October, equipped Pacific Island countries with the tools and knowledge to enhance their national education statistical systems.
The successful facilitation of this convening allowed the region to effectively monitor its education progress towards the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).
In recent years, considerable advancements have been made in how countries in the Pacific region collect and report education data. A notable development is the introduction of the UIS dynamic template, which has streamlined the process of compiling and producing education statistics.
By bridging gaps in crucial indicators, the template has enabled countries to generate data more efficiently. While several countries are developing or upgrading their Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), by adding new features such as individual student data, many struggle with expanding data coverage, integrating information from various sub-sectors, and generating system-level indicators to inform high-level policy decisions.
Sanjinita Sunish, the Director of Finance at the Cook Islands Ministry of Education, emphasised the collaborative effort needed to address these challenges. “Our partnership with SPC/EQAP is of great value for all the Pacific countries, including the Cook Islands. Not only do they help with the improvement of the data quality, they also help in designing policies. Also, in terms of the questionnaires we are filling in and submitting to UIS, this provides an overview of how our education data is performing, enabling us to learn about our strengths,” she noted.
The workshop brought together education officials, data experts, and stakeholders from across the region. Its objectives included:
- Discussing international data collection methodologies,
- Identifying gaps in current data production processes, and
- Sharing practical solutions for overcoming common challenges.
Participants also explored how to better integrate and use EMIS to produce more reliable and timely data.
Pillar Ngiraswei, Chief of Research and Evaluation at the Palau Ministry of Education, highlighted the significance of this workshop and its role in improving education data for her country. “This workshop provided a platform for Pacific Island countries to come together and exchange learnings and best practices, which empowers the Ministries of Education to produce timely and accurate data”, she said.
Through these discussions, the workshop enhanced the region’s ability to produce quality data that drives meaningful educational outcomes.
Cobin Ngwero, the Principal Planning Officer for the Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training, further emphasised the results of the regional workshop, stating that it was a great opportunity to learn from other countries’ experiences, which helped realise the strengths and weaknesses of their own education data in their respective countries. “The workshop helped us identify opportunities presented by our colleagues, and this will help us improve our data system back home”, he said.
As the Pacific works to align its educational goals with global SDG4, the role of data in shaping future policies becomes ever more critical. The insights gained and shared during this four-day event will contribute to building stronger education systems across the region.
