What is a data plan?
The aim of a data plan is to help countries transform national data into internationally comparable statistics through consultations with the UIS, national statisticians and staff from ministries of education. To this end, a data plan maps a country’s education system according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).
Who uses data plans?
Data plans provide technical guidance to government ministries, UN agencies and other international organizations responsible for the collection, analysis and publication of data in accordance with international standards.
The UIS has created a manual for the development of national data plans. It includes guidelines for improving the coverage of national data collections, completing UIS education questionnaires, mapping national data to ISCED, and estimating missing data.
What types of information does a data plan contain?
Each report covers the following components:
- Summary of the national education system, including an overview of the types of institutions.
- ISCED mapping of the national education system.
- Guidelines to complete UIS education questionnaires.
- Recommendations to improve quality control when reporting international data.
Production of data plans:
Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Asia:
Since 2010, data plans have been produced for the following countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iran, the Lao Democratic People’s Republic, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal and Timor-Leste.
Sub-Saharan Africa:
Since 2009, data plans have been produced for the following countries: Botswana, Cameroon, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. The UIS has also produced data plans specifically focusing on education finance expenditure for Gambia, Malawi and Rwanda.
Latin America and the Caribbean:
Since 2001, data plans have been produced for the following 26 countries and territories: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
The UIS is working to produce data plans for more countries in addition to updating current plans.
Quick links to questionnaires: