Joint Review Mission

( A few observations about DISE)

• The introduction by NUEPA of unified DISE data in 2013-14 will enable States, districts, sub-districts and schools to better assess and track their progress.

  The State report for Maharashtra notes that:

                 One major achievement has been the publication and analysis of DISE data at all levels, which

                 has raised the awareness of the need for RTE compliance in relation to norms and indicators,

                 and has led to the development of a Statewide initiative to rank schools against RTE norms.

                 The school-ranking scheme will be launched across the state over the coming months and it

                  will be interesting to note the implementation and impact of this initiative ….

• One of the problems with the data collected at present by DISE is the lack of clarity and uniformity in defining what constitutes a dropped out child. The Ministry informed the Mission that NEUPA has been asked to develop uniform criteria to collect data on dropouts. The Mission would like to urge the NUEPA to develop a paper on the same by September 1st week so that the 2012-13 data collection (as on September 30, 2012) will be able to collect record data accordingly.

• Significant progress has been made in two important aspects of the data collection and monitoring system, the integration of DISE and SEMIS and the move towards an Adhaar-enabled child-wise data base. In due course, when these systems have bedded in, these developments will result in more timely and more comprehensive data.

• The Mission was informed that the committee charged with making recommendations about the integration of the DISE and SEMIS systems is about to complete its report to MHRD. It is expected that the consolidation will happen this coming data collection cycle, at least in some states. This is very encouraging to hear since this will significantly improve the quality of the data and JRM State Implementation Reports indicate that several states were already trying to move in this direction through establishing their own combined systems.

• Successive JRMs have appreciated the role played by DISE in providing access to basic data about schools across the country. This is an important role, and it now needs to be supplemented by the equally important role of promoting analytical understanding that any systemic data-gathering process must aim at. The continued expansion of DISE is as necessary (i.e. so as to cover private and other institutions, including the unrecognized ones) as its enrichment, in terms of its capacity to promote analytical interpretation of existing and emerging patterns across different regions.

• The Mission reviewed the progress against the four goals based on the 2009-10 DISE data. The Mission understands that the 2010-11 data is being compiled. The 2010-11 data is important as it uses the revised DISE format (2010-11 DISE data is already available for 27 states/UTs) that has taken into account the RTE provisions. The efforts made to improve accuracy in data collection are appreciated. The repeat independent survey to estimate of out of school children (OoSC) is scheduled for 2012 and the previous one was in 2009. As the 12^th and 13^th JRM Aide Memoires had reported progress based on the 2009-10 DISE data, this mission reviewed progress in various interventions.

• The Mission is particularly appreciative of the tremendous efforts made at national and State levels to improve the compilation of education data, its analysis and use in planning and monitoring purpose. In the current year, as several norms of SSA have been revised to harmonize with the RTE provisions, the importance of data and analysis to inform additional planning assumes greater importance. So, whether it is the identification of the number and type of school infrastructure required to be built, or additional teachers to be appointed, or even the number of children to be provided with school uniforms – the information emerges from the District Information System for Education (DISE). The fact that information regarding school infrastructure, enrolments, teachers and other school efficiency indicators are available in the form of School Report Cards in the website  www.schoolreportcards.in for more than 1.29 million schools is remarkable not only in the context of RTE, but also for its transparency, and in the perspective of the Right to Information (RTI) also. While School Report Cards (SRC) are available on the website, few schools visited by JRM had a SRC displayed on the school board.

• The District Information System for Education (DISE), continues to provide information about school level statistics, including school infrastructure, human resources and enrolment related details.

• The information of 1.3 million schools (both government, aided and recognized private schools) covered by DISE is currently available on online. The School Report Cards (SRC) provides school level information and is available in 6 languages, which is a tremendous effort to disseminate information about school facilities to the public.

• 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.

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