Content Management
Content Platform
Data Collection
Data Processing
Data Analysis
Data Reporting

Key elements of data reporting

  • Operational policies and specification documents to design EMIS dashboards and reports
  • Alignment of data dashboards and reports with information required for strategic planning, monitoring, and accountability
  • Processes for reviewing EMIS reporting needs
  • Indicator reports, high-level summary reports, and annual statistical abstracts
  • Online dashboards for stakeholder report access

Internal and external stakeholders in the education system need different types of reports that present the analysis of data in the EMIS. Information in these reports supports governance and accountability, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic planning and management for the education system. Effective data reporting requires operational policies and specifications for the creation and configuration of online dashboards and reports, as well as processes to review EMIS reporting needs.

Within the EMIS ecosystem, data reporting is defined as:

The process of presenting the indicators from data analysis in online dashboards, reports, and statistical abstracts to support strategic planning and management, governance and accountability, and monitoring and evaluation of the education system.

Explore these essential data reporting resources:

  1. Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) A Guide for Young Managers – This guide provides a clear outline of data management (including reporting) in an EMIS.
  2. Rethinking education management information systems: lessons from and options for less developed countries – Data reporting is discussed as one aspect of data management in this review of four country cases of EMIS implementation enabled by donor support.

Steps to effective data reporting in EMIS

  • Establish operational policies and specification documentation to guide reporting needs: Every type of stakeholder should be represented in an operational policy that outlines its EMIS reporting needs. Specification documentation outlines the specific types of reports and the ways in which data is to be presented in them.
  • Ensure that data dashboards and reports are aligned with reporting needs: Data reports such as annual statistical abstracts, high-level summary reports, and indicator reports should match the reporting needs of each purpose, including monitoring, evaluation, and strategic planning. They should be generated at regular intervals in data dashboards that are readily accessible by specific stakeholder types.
  • Establish processes for reviewing EMIS reports: EMIS reporting needs evolve over time as the system develops or undergoes change. Review reporting needs regularly according to a clear process.
  • Generate indicator reports, high-level summary reports, and annual statistical abstracts: These are the main types of reports required by senior stakeholders and decision-makers to monitor education system performance.
  • Establish online dashboards for each stakeholder type to access relevant data summaries and reports: In digital systems, users and stakeholders should be able to use the software to generate different types of reports from data sets (e.g., graphs and statistical tables) to support their needs.

Data reporting is necessary to monitor the education system’s performance and to support high-level functions such as monitoring and evaluation, governance and accountability, budgeting, strategic planning, and policy-making.