DATA and Evidence for Education Programs (DEEP)
Mapping of Systems Diagnostic and Assessment Tools and Approaches
USAID and other donor agencies are currently working to improve methods and tools used in sector assessments and diagnostics in the education sector. For example, the World Bank has recently developed a new diagnostic approach that builds on their Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER) diagnostic. DFID is funding pilots of five different approaches to education system diagnostic, including an expert-led diagnostic approach under Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE). The UN agencies supported the development of a range of system assessment tools and methods aimed to assess specific elements of the education system. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that recently launched their first education research portfolio is very interested in supporting assessment and diagnostic efforts, as well.
During a workshop in Washington, DC in June 2018, key actors involved in education system/sector assessment/diagnostic, discussed areas of overlap as well as gaps, and worked toward advanced donor collaboration and assessment data sharing agreements.
The purpose of these documents is to provide a reference that can inform discussion on existing and nascent approaches to education system diagnostics. These documents contain a series of briefs, representing 14 separate tools and approaches that were designed to:
- Generate better understanding of the state of the education sector and systems
- Diagnose gaps and constraints that play a role in sub-optimal access and learning outcomes
- Identify and prioritize interventions to improve access and learning outcomes
Each brief contains responses to fifteen questions, which cover the following characteristics: development/ implementation status, objectives, boundary/scope, and nature of implementation.
These briefs are a useful reference when reviewing systems diagnostics.