SPC-UNESCO Education Workshop
SPC is hosting a regional workshop on education statistics and indicators for the Pacific region, jointly organized by
the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Statistics for Development
Division.
This workshop is part of an ongoing collaboration between the UIS and SPC to support and improve the statistical
capacity in the Pacific and will provide an opportunity for dialogue between national education statisticians, the UIS
and SPC and other partners.
The demand for data on education in the Pacific has never been greater both at the national and regional levels. In most
Pacific Islands large scale household surveys and censuses are now conducted periodically, along with regular national
administrative databases known as Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) collect data directly from schools.
These data collection activities complement each other well and provide a lot of detailed information on population,
health, education, household income and expenditure, employment and other. This is important for making evidence based
decisions, however in many instances the information from these data collection efforts is underutilised.
This workshop focuses in particular on the new revision of the International Standard Classification of Education; ISCED
2011. ISCED is a framework for the compilation and presentation of national and international education statistics and
indicators. It covers all organized and sustained learning activities for children, young people and adults including
those with special educational needs. The basic concepts and definitions are intended to be universally valid and
applicable to the particular circumstances of a national education system.
SPC and UIS along with PIFS and other partners have already forged some strong contacts with key Education staff in
Pacific Island countries and this workshop is a major part of the Pacific Education Development Framework (regions M framework) and SPCs development of a Ten Year Pacific Statistics Strategy (TYPSS).
Furthermore the establishment of a regional facility at the SPC to provide structured support to Pacific Island
countries (PICs) to strengthen the effectiveness of their Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), is hoped will
lead to better education policies, decision making and resource allocation. This is anticipated to be a long-term
investment which aligns well with support under the Ten-Year Pacific Statistics Strategy (TYPPS) and will likely
commence mid-way through this year.
ENDS