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4.2.2 Technical infrastructure and equipment

71. It is essential to have an adequate computing environment to perform the
EMIS functions including the production of quality education statistics in a timely
manner. It includes a proper network and computing infrastructure, sufficient capacity of
servers, backup and security facilities along with appropriate and regular maintenance.
Such settings tend to be increasingly critical for the demands of today’s information
society. At the same time, modern equipment requires a significant amount of
investment and a high level of technical skill to maintain although those are easier to
operate (more user-friendly). To get the right balance, one needs careful planning by
taking into account the actual and prospective extent of data development
requirements, the choice of operational processes throughout the whole chain of data
collection and processing, and the sustainability of the investment. In the case of
Bangladesh, although the basic computing facilities are provided at the central
ministries as well as at the local level by the government and developmental partners
through various EMIS projects, much needs to be improved or built up, especially in
term of infrastructure, to meet both current and future demands.

72. At the MIS unit of the DPE which is the place to process the education census
data at central level for MOPME, there are more than 15 computers along with several
laser and dot-matrix printers. However, most of the computers are more than three
years old. All the computers are connected with Local Area Network (LAN). Its server
has more than 80 GB disk storage with 512 KB memory. Currently only dial-up Internet
access is available, however, under PEDP II programme there is a plan to set up a
broadband internet access. Under the DPE, every district and some Upazilas (around
190) have two computers and one dot matrix printer for EMIS as well as for general use.

73. LAN has been installed at the central EMIS unit of MOE located in BANBEIS.
The unit has adequate office space for various EMIS activities (training, installation of
equipment, data entry, data storage, staff working area, etc.). At present this unit has
three servers to maintain the databases as well as to provide high-speed Internet
service. Each server has capacity of more than 80 GB storage and at least 512 KB
memory. Moreover, two servers have XEON dual processors. They are connected with
about thirty PC computers through the LAN. There is a separate room equipped with a
digitizer board, a plotter and laser colour printers to operate the GIS and school
mapping activities. This unit has two LCD projectors for various training and
demonstrations.

74. At the central level, the EMIS units are equipped with LAN and computers
and other office equipment. It can be considered that staff members are adequately
equipped with a ratio of one computer to one staff member. However, the two ministries
(MOE and MOPME) have not established an operative computer network to share the
resources. Although initiatives have been taken in the Ministry of Education to set up a
radio link network among the Directorate of Secondary Education, BANBEIS and MOE,
it is not yet functioning. In MOPME, this link is yet to be established. There are no
standard procedures and guidelines for the maintenance and support of the I.T.
facilities. No dedicated I.T. team is assigned to support the Ministry’s I.T. facilities. It

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