Quarter 1 Newsletter

EPDC has redesigned its Search the Data and Search the Graphs query system. Search the Data now has a better interface for selecting data by countries, indicators, years and levels of detail. Search the Graphs offers many new and updated graphs with great flexibility built in the query system to create graphical reports in the format users want.

The EPDC created a News blog for an easier and faster search and update of information and developed the capability to create customized user-groups for better collaboration with other organizations.

The EPDC’s National Education Profiles report on the status of education systems through graphs and maps, using these visual tools to make data tell stories, highlight issues and point to policy solutions. The profiles have been updated with new graphs and more recent data for 188 countries. The profiles provide an overview of topics such as school attendance, retention, learning, and education attainment by gender, sub-national regions, grade levels, and household characteristics (types of residential area, income level, children’s health) and provide expected trend lines.

EPDC publishes maps using a GIS system with sub-national level data of education indicators.

• National maps with information at sub-national level are also available for 59 countries on primary and secondary net and gross attendance under Search the Graphs and in national education profiles.
• Global maps for cross-country comparison have been updated with more recent data on enrollment, survival to grade 5, out-of-school children, adult literacy and education attainment and average years of schooling.

Maps on more countries and indicators will be added over the coming months.

National Administrative Data: Every year, the EPDC surveys a wide range of national statistical and ministry of education websites for new education statistics. The 2008 round has just been completed and new national data for 50 countries has been uploaded. This year, data on national exam results and vocational school enrolment were added. Other data include enrolment rates, numbers of pupils, teachers and schools, progression rates, and some financial data. 2007 education data--including much sub-national data--is available for 15 countries.

2006 MICS3 Survey Data: Many final reports for the important 2006 round of child welfare surveys by UNICEF (MICS) are now available. The EPDC has uploaded the education data from these reports. The indicators include attendance rates as well as survival and progression rates by gender, household background, and sub-national regions. More countries will be added as reports become available. MICS 2006 survey data are now available for 22 countries.

2005 and 2006 DHS Data: EPDC regularly extracts and uploads education data from DHS datasets. The indicators include data on attendance, efficiency, literacy, and education attainment rates by gender, household background, and sub-national regions. The 2005 and 2006 DHS data are now available for 8 countries.

Updated UIS Data: Recently, UIS updated its education statistics to take account of the new UN Population Estimates. The revision largely affects school enrolment rates. The new data are in the EPDC data system.

The EPDC is currently working on the following new features and projects:

• Online demo of EPDC website
• Search the Maps query system
• Profiles of education projections
• Studies for the 2009 Global Monitoring Report