Global governance is increasingly conducted through monitoring procedures and progress managed through a system of goals, targets and indicators, which encourages the generation of data and statistics to guide policy and legitimate decisions. This global data includes statistics on sector inputs and outcomes, as well as a wealth of quantified learning data generated by comparable large-scale assessments. The idea of ‘data’ serves as an important source of legitimation and justification for decision-making and the investment of resources in education and training areas.
However, data in itself does not constitute knowledge and it is important to unpack the processes by which data is produced, processed, and disseminated. Who is producing and processing this data, and under what terms? How is this evidence used to legitimate policies, and with what effects? NORRAG’s work in this area aims to unpack the role of data and indicators in global governance frameworks for education and to question the implication of standardizations shaped by these governance frameworks, with a specific emphasis on the education-relevant SDG goals and framework
Find below the most recent NORRAG content on the topic of Politics of Data and Indicators:
Resource Library:
WORKING PAPER #9: The Global Targeting of Education and Skill: Policy History and Comparative Perspectives (November 2015)
WORKSHOP REPORT: Global Governance of Education and Training and the Politics of Data (June 2014)
Documents on the topics of data and indicators will be uploaded to the NORRAG Resource Library
For information about related activities and knowledge products, see our resources