Joint Review Mission

( A few observations about DISE)

• DISE continues to be the  main instrument for monitoring element, dropout, physical infrastructure, teachers, PTR, SCR and other school level indicators.

• Efforts to improve the quality of data collection continue, with a 5% independent sample check in place, and networking of 900 MIS coordinators at district and block levels to improve problem-solving.

• DISE is now in public domain (including raw data) and revised school report cards are now available for almost 1.3 million schools, a remarkable achievement (although this needs greater publicity and discussion).

The Mission would like to congratulate MHRD, TSG, NUEPA and the States on the outstanding work that has gone into creating the country-wide District Information System for Education (DISE). The coverage of DISE has steadily increased in terms of both districts and types of schools in the country. The Mission benefited from presentations on school report cards that are now generated for over 1.2 million schools in the country and on State efforts to use data and information more effectively. The collection of data in September each year for the publication of Flash Statistics on key indicators by the following July is praiseworthy and a valuable resource for educational planners. The Mission would like to highlight the following achievements in particular:

• The release of provisional 2008-09 data for 34 of the 35 States within ten months of the school census date (which is very fast in the light of international experience and the fact that the corresponding data for only 22 States were available for the 8^th JRM);

• The release of raw data and School Report Cards (SRCs) online at www.schoolreportcards.in;

• The preparation of independent reports on sample checks, their availability online, the preparation of a paper summarising the messages, action taken in response and the planned review of the format and guidance on reports;

• The facility various states are now using to enable schools to update their data for the previous year rather than complete a blank form;

• The training given on analysing the data, andthe increasing use of DISE data by some states, notably Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, including the collection of some state-specific variables.

• DISE continues to be the main instrument for monitoring enrolment, dropout, physical infrastructure, teachers, PTR, SCR and other school level indicators.

• The Mission is pleased to note a significant improvement in the quality and utilization of data over the years. Rich data are now available in all states through DISE.

• There is more timely reporting of DISE data ?the Flash Statistics for 2007/08 for 21 States are already available.

• There is better national coverage of DISE.

• DISE began to include data with respect to Muslim children for the first time in 2006-07.

• Commendable work is accomplished at the national level through regular publication of state and district level data on various indicators of educational accomplishment.

• At decentralized levels, DISE data appears to be used as a tool to plan for inputs for the preparation of work plan and budget.

• The District Information System for Education, DISE, that was initiated in seven states in 1994-95 has now expanded to cover all 35 states and UT’s. More importantly, the time lag between data gathering and reporting has reduced dramatically. A couple of years ago the time lag was over two years. This Mission could get information for 2006-07 for 25 states at the beginning of the academic year 2007-08. Also, comparison with other sources of information indicates that the reliability of the data too has improved considerably. Several states including Orissa, Karnataka, and Himachal have moved beyond DISE to creating their own individual child database, which are used for tracking.

• The Mission was also appreciative of the efforts at the national level to analyse DISE data to come up with trends over years and in formulating an EDI QPR & FMRs are also regularly monitored at the National level.

• While the outputs of DISE are increasingly impressive, making available data which is consistent, reliable, timely and comprehensive and amenable to use at appropriate levels remains an important challenge. DISE remains the principal tool for measuring progress towards enrolment,  retention, completion, transition, school facilities, quality etc. The managers of DISE have reduced the time it takes to collect and analyse data to about one year. The provision for a 5 per cent sample check for ensuring DISE data quality has now been made mandatory for all states/Uts. The attempts to complement school-based DISE through household surveys like the SRI IMRB survey, and the National Sample Survey Organization [NSSO] survey in the offing are welcome. The efforts being made to enhance the quality of the data need to be commended.

• The Mission was pleased to note that 581 district in 29 States are now reporting under DISE.

• Another matter for concern is the quality of the data being generated. It is heartening to note that some States have conducted a 5% sample check of the DISE data. For example, Orissa has done 100% sample checks by the CRCs, 50% by BRCs, 20% at DPO, and 10% at State level. In Bihar, an independent institution is doing the 5 percent sample check. A third party 5% sample check has been conducted in two districts of HP.  All States need to institutionalise measures for validation of data.

• It is commendable that DISE has resulted in reducing the time lag between collection of data and its analysis to about one year, which earlier, in SES (the only other source of national level data) used to take 7 or 8 years.

• It is commendable that DISE has resulted in reducing the time lag between collection of data and its analysis to about one year, which earlier, in SES (the only other source of national level data) used to take 7 or 8 years.

• A system is in place for validation of DISE data at various levels ?100% checking by CRCs, 50% by BRCs, 20% at District level and 10% at state level.

Copyright Act © 2009. All right reserved. NUEPA (National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi)
Site Best Viewed in 800 * 600 resolution with Internet Explorer 4.0 and above.