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191. Identify equipment needs at the central and local levels, prioritise the needs
and provide for them as necessary, and refurbish and repair the existing equipment
appropriately.

192. There are many talented and capable persons in various technical areas in
both national and sub-national levels. Sharing and exchanging these human resources
and developing joint activities, such as the development of EMIS software, would be
very cost-effective and will improve cooperation among provincial EMIS units.

Capacity building needs

Findings

193. Most officials responsible for record keeping and statistical activities at the
local level predominantly use manual methods, regardless of access to electricity and
availability of computers.

194. Due to a lack of skills and knowledge, as well as the existence of technical
barriers, there is limited use of EMIS data at central and local levels. Education planners
and managers would need capacity building to use EMIS data in planning and decision-
making. Furthermore, there is a need to strengthen research and policy-oriented
analysis. Analytical functions are lacking at all levels.

195. Although the district level has become the centre of education services in
terms of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, the situation requires
various sets of education and socio-economic data. However, most of the district EMIS
cells under the district education office of MOPME are not in a position to cater these
needs. The function of district EMIS cells is limited to data entry. In some cases, they
cannot even perform this task well. At the post-primary (local) level, there is no
dedicated person to undertake the EMIS activities. In general, the existing district EMIS
cells are not in a position to analyse the education data and to provide the required
information to decision-makers at the district level. They are long overdue to produce
the district education profile which would stimulate the local decision-making process.

196. There is little effective application of statistics and information among the
users especially the decision-makers and planners at all levels. This is partly due to the
lack of detailed information useful for planning and partly attributable to the lack of
knowledge and skills in statistics.

197. Most of the skill improvement activities are mainly focused on computer areas
and neglect statistical methods illuminating their use in planning, monitoring and
evaluation contexts.

198. Furthermore, the existing equipment and facilities cannot be optimally utilised
until staffs are adequately trained.

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