1. Education for All Working Group Third Meeting Group 4: Assessing progress - bridging the data gap Education for All Working Group Third Meeting Group 4: Assessing progress - bridging the data gap

2.  To assist national policy making  Allow assessment of progress towards the Dakar goals for all countries Note: Tension between building sustainable data collection systems in country and provision of timely data internationally  To assist national policy making  Allow assessment of progress towards the Dakar goals for all countries Note: Tension between building sustainable data collection systems in country and provision of timely data internationally Two objectives

3.  Agree a set of core indicators to be used by all international organizations (cost – partial picture not always useful at national level)  Recognise that data collection is expensive (Some felt strongly that donors should fund.)  Make better use of existing data (e.g., where possible make more use of survey data to complete administrative data)  Agree a set of core indicators to be used by all international organizations (cost – partial picture not always useful at national level)  Recognise that data collection is expensive (Some felt strongly that donors should fund.)  Make better use of existing data (e.g., where possible make more use of survey data to complete administrative data) International level: Areas where progress could be made International level: Areas where progress could be made

4.  Recognise that priorities for data needs change over time (e.g., Bangladesh – learning time very important)  Make great use of qualitative measures  Build upon existing databases  Need for independent verification Country level

5.  Greater agreement on core indicators internationally – Need to ang heads together (UIS to convene?)  Greater donor funding for data collection (e.g., Put aside percentage of Fast Track spending for this purpose – USAID to pursue?)  Encourage establishment of independent verification at country level – could be done by education specific bodies or general statistical bodies (To be discussed at country level)  Greater agreement on core indicators internationally – Need to ang heads together (UIS to convene?)  Greater donor funding for data collection (e.g., Put aside percentage of Fast Track spending for this purpose – USAID to pursue?)  Encourage establishment of independent verification at country level – could be done by education specific bodies or general statistical bodies (To be discussed at country level) Possible Action following EFA Working Group Meeting

6.  Try to get richer data to complete core indicators in some countries -Use more innovative approaches to inform us or e.g., gender / HIV/AIDS issues (Not clear who would do this.)  Try to get richer data to complete core indicators in some countries -Use more innovative approaches to inform us or e.g., gender / HIV/AIDS issues (Not clear who would do this.)