Supporting Processes

Quality Assurance (QA) refers to systematic processes and procedures used to determine if a service or product meets its required quality standards. QA supports ongoing improvement in an organization.

Explore these essential resources to learn more about QA processes in EMIS implementation

1. Quality Assurance (QA) – This article outlines the concept of QA, explores different types of QA, and highlights the industries in which QA is commonly applied.
2. A Framework for Assessing the Quality of Education Statistics – This framework can be used to evaluate the quality of education data. Developed by the World Bank and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, it combines a general data quality framework with specific examples and applications for education statistics.
3. Data Collection Instruments – This resource is helpful for standardizing processes, evaluating systems used for data collection in the EMIS, defining clear naming conventions, and assessing the capacity of staff to collect and manage educational data effectively.

Good QA practices include:

• Commitment from senior leadership to support and implement QA.
• Establishment of quality standards for all aspects of the education system and the EMIS ecosystem.
• Detailed planning for all processes and systems across the ecosystem, with measurable expectations that are aligned with the quality standards.
• Clear and detailed processes for managing documentation and reports related to the entire ecosystem.
• Human resource capacity to carry out QA processes.
• Training and capacity building to ensure staff have the skills and knowledge to perform QA activities.
• Financial and other resources allocated specifically to QA activities.
• Clear communication and collaboration protocols and processes within the ecosystem and among staff involved in QA work.
• Procedures for collecting feedback from stakeholders.
• Regular audits and risk assessment of systems.
• Preventative and corrective actions to address problems that arise.

Steps to integrate QA processes and procedures into the EMIS ecosystem:

Standards compliance across the ecosystem:

• Ensure that all ecosystem components comply with required quality standards, including:

QA of capacity building initiatives:

• Ensure that all ecosystem components comply with required quality standards, including ICT infrastructure, data privacy, cybersecurity, data validation, system interoperability, human resource management processes, financial processes, project management, procurement processes, change management processes, communication with stakeholders, and decision-making and planning processes.

Data management (collection, processing, analysis, and reporting) review:

• Ensure data collection tools and systems are simple to complete, capture the required data, and are updated as new requirements arise.
• Review the quality and quantity of received instruments, continual improvements in data entry design, data entry processes, data cleaning efficiency and quality, and data integration and transformation.
• Review and improve the identification and analysis of trends and indicators, improvements in the preparation of results, analytical reports, planning, projection, and simulation models.
• Review and evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of reports and dashboards to ensure they meet the information needs for strategic planning and decision-making at all levels.

Publication and dissemination review

• Improve the delivery and availability of relevant information for stakeholders of the EMIS ecosystem.

Usability testing:

• Assess how easily users can navigate through the tools and systems.

Technical testing:

• Check technical functionality to ensure the EMIS operates smoothly across locations, devices, and platforms.