World Bank Education Overview : Data and Measurement

Education systems need a broad range of high-quality data to monitor and promote student progress and to understand the links between inputs, policies, practices, and learning. From basic information on teacher absenteeism to detailed assessment of student learning outcomes and skills acquisition, data makes it possible for countries to understand the performance of their education systems and to identify changes needed in programs and policies. Increasingly, countries combine their own national learning assessments with regular participation in a growing range of international, large-scale assessments, such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS. Initiatives like the World Bank’s Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER) and Service Delivery Indicators provide countries with metrics on the quality of service delivery in schools.