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Production and dissemination of data and its usefulness for planning and
monitoring
Findings

177. The statistical products are sometimes affected by protracted production
delays. The data which are needed for planning are rarely available in time. In this
sense, information cannot be utilised for the preparation of the next school year. The
delayed delivery of data casts a negative image on the statistical unit. This forces data
users to find other alternative sources instead of relying on the data from EMIS.
Sometimes it creates parallel data collection and most of the activities are conducted in
an uncoordinated manner. The existence of duplication and inconsistency among the
data lead the users to doubt which data should be used. In addition, the statistics are
compiled for limited purposes of reporting to the higher authorities and planning for local
administration. Available data in the EMIS are not fully adequate to meet users’ needs.

178. Throughout various data collections, data are extensively collected. However,
little information and useful outputs have been generated. Usefulness of the data is
limited due to lack of transformation of raw data into useful information, such as
indicators of system performance. There is, for example, little evidence of producing
important EFA monitoring indicators such as enrolment rates, intake rates, transition
rates, completion rates. Only summary information is available at each administrative
level.

179. At the primary level, through the district EMIS units, a comprehensive data set
are collected but no dissemination is made. Only summary information collected by
Monitoring and Evaluation unit is released. For the post-secondary level, annual school
census is not conducted annually. As a result of this, data are not available every year.
Furthermore, there is an absence of analysis in the publications.

180. Statistical products are not adequately disseminated to the lower levels. This
situation discourages the use of statistical information by the staff. At the same time, the
plans are formulated based on outdated or unreliable data.

181. The main issues in accessibility are related to lack of timeliness, lack of
feedback to data providers, and more importantly, inflexibility of the format of
disseminated statistics for the potential or desired users of the data.

182. Effort is needed in terms of diversifying dissemination media from basic
brochures up to web publication through more analytical outputs to ease policy
formulation and decision-making and enhance accountability in general.

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