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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Public Administration, reimagined: The promise of government analytics
Rahul is an officer of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers. He completed his (Electrical Engg.) from NIT Bhopal in 2008 and is also a certified Energy Auditor from BEE. Currently, he is working as Deputy Secretary in the Dept of School Education & Literacy in the Ministry of Education, New Delhi. He has won the National Award for Outstanding Service from Ministry in 2016 and Railway Board Award for Best Suggestion Scheme in 2019. He is inclined towards dramatics, enjoys movies, books, music, singing, comparing, cultural activities, running etc. LESS ... MORE As I reflect on my recent completion of the World Bank's Government Analytics course, I'm struck by the immense potential these tools hold for revolutionising governance in India. Today, while data-driven decision-making has improved productivity in the private sector, many governments still have a wealth of data but struggle to turn it into valuable insights. This gap presents both challenges and new opportunities for those working in public administration. The promise of government analytics in modern governance The digital transformation of government operations has accelerated dramatically in recent years. Financial management, procurement, taxation, and service delivery have increasingly moved online, generating vast repositories of administrative data. Yet, as the World Bank's Government Analytics Handbook highlights, this data often remains trapped in silos, used primarily for record-keeping rather than informing strategic decisions[1]. The result is a missed opportunity to enhance expenditure effectiveness, improve service delivery, and ultimately increase public trust in government. From my experience in government, I see significant potential in the administrative data collected daily covering school attendance, teacher deployment, infrastructure, and student outcomes. While this information has often been used mainly for record-keeping, it now presents a valuable opportunity to uncover patterns, address bottlenecks, and identify areas for improvement. A key initiative in this direction is the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK), established by the Government of India at both national and state/UT levels. VSK serves as a centralised hub that aggregates and analyses educational data from millions of schools, teachers, and students across the country, integrating sources like UDISE+, student and teacher databases, and learning outcome assessments. Using advanced analytics, machine learning, and real-time dashboards, VSK enables administrators to monitor crucial indicators such as student attendance, enrollment, learning progress, and teacher effectiveness. This empowers education officials to make timely, data-driven decisions, for example, identifying students at risk of dropping out or rationalising teacher deployment to address shortages in single-teacher or under-resourced schools. By breaking down data silos and providing actionable insights, VSK strengthens accountability, improves resource allocation, and supports the overall goal of enhancing learning outcomes nationwide. Key insights from the government analytics handbook and fellowship The Government Analytics Handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to leveraging data for strengthening public administration. What distinguishes this resource is its practical approach to transforming existing administrative data into actionable insights. The Handbook emphasises that governments don't necessarily need to collect new data – instead, they can gain tremendous value by repurposing the information they already possess. During the Government Analytics course, I was particularly impressed by the case studies demonstrating concrete results. For instance, Chile's Ministry of Health saved hundreds of millions of dollars by using administrative data to reduce missed medical appointments among patients with chronic conditions. Similarly, Guatemala's Ministry of Education reduced the dropout rate for students entering lower secondary school by 9% through data-driven identification of at-risk students. Practical applications in Public Administration For India, government analytics presents transformative possibilities. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, data-driven organisations are 23 times more likely to acquire customers, six times more likely to retain customers, and 19 times more likely to be profitable. These principles apply equally to government operations, where improved analytics can enhance service delivery and policy outcomes. The Government Analytics Handbook outlines several foundational elements that are particularly relevant for Indian public administration: Repurposing administrative data : Rather than creating new data collection systems, we can extract valuable insights from existing financial management systems, HR databases, and service delivery records . Measuring what matters : The Handbook emphasises the importance of a balanced data suite that prioritises problem-solving and learning, not just compliance . Ethical considerations : Government analytics must respect privacy concerns and moral boundaries, especially when analysing data related to public servants or vulnerable populations . Implementation focus : Analytics should inform action, not simply produce reports. The goal is to enhance decision-making and drive measurable improvements in government performance . Applying government analytics to school education sector research in India My immediate interest lies in applying government analytics principles to research on setting up a school complex in India as envisioned in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The policy marks a significant shift in India's approach to school organisation by advocating for the creation of school complexes rather than traditional school consolidation or closure. While school closure permanently shuts down institutions and consolidation merges multiple schools, often leading to community disruption, the school complex model is fundamentally different. It groups nearby schools, including Anganwadis and all levels from pre-primary to secondary, into a collaborative unit that shares resources, staff, and infrastructure, while allowing each school to retain its identity and location. This approach is designed to address the chronic challenges of small, under-resourced schools, such as the prevalence of single-teacher institutions and zero-enrolment schools, without sacrificing access or local engagement. According to the latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) data, India is home to 1,10,971 single-teacher schools, showcasing the dedication of educators in reaching even the most remote areas. Additionally, 12,964 schools, despite currently having zero enrolment, employ over 31,000 teachers, reflecting the nation's commitment to providing educational infrastructure. More than half of all schools (56.7%) cater to fewer than 100 students, and nearly 68,000 schools serve fewer than 10 students, emphasising the potential for personalised learning experiences. These figures illuminate immense opportunities to further enhance education accessibility and optimise resources for a brighter future. With targeted initiatives and innovative models like school complexes, there is great potential to optimise resources, enhance collaboration, and ensure that every child has access to quality education. This data provides a strong foundation for designing solutions that can strengthen the education system and better serve students and teachers across the country. The school complex model, as outlined in NEP 2020, directly addresses these issues by enabling the pooling of teachers-ensuring subject-specific instruction and reducing the burden on single teachers-and by optimising the use of infrastructure such as libraries, laboratories, and sports facilities across the complex. This not only helps in achieving economies of scale but also ensures equitable access to quality resources for all students, regardless of the size or location of their school. Moreover, school complexes are envisioned as decentralised, semi-autonomous units with their management committees, fostering innovation, local governance, and community participation. This structure enhances administrative efficiency and allows for tailored interventions that reflect local needs and contexts. By focusing on collaboration and resource sharing rather than closure or consolidation, the school complex model supports both efficiency and equity, aligning with NEP's vision of universal access to quality education and robust, inclusive governance. Looking forward: Building a government analytics ecosystem in India With the advent of artificial intelligence, the landscape of government analytics is poised to evolve even further. AI-powered tools can uncover deeper insights from vast datasets, enable predictive modelling at scale, and support more personalised, real-time decision-making in public administration. As we enter this new era, policymakers and administrators need to build their capacity to harness AI responsibly and effectively. Looking ahead, future iterations of the government analytics course could incorporate modules and success stories on the integration of AI in public sector analytics, ensuring that India's public administration remains at the forefront of innovation and positive change. Government analytics represents not just a set of technical tools, but a transformative approach to governance that leverages our existing data resources to create more effective, efficient, and responsive public administration. As Francis Fukuyama noted about the Government Analytics Handbook, this approach offers 'granular and real insights into how states work'. For India's education sector and beyond, these insights could be the key to unlocking our next wave of governance innovation. References Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
India Today
03-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Centre flags gaps in J&K's public schooling system, calls for urgent reforms
A significant gap in student enrolment exists between government and private schools in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has highlighted a crucial issue in Jammu and Kashmir's education system, noting that although government schools comprise 77.32 per cent of the total schools in the region, only 54.06 per cent of students are enrolled in them. This discrepancy raises concerns about the quality and appeal of government education compared to private institutions. Government advice on enrolment ratios In light of these statistics, the Jammu and Kashmir government has been advised to prioritise the improvement of the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) at the higher secondary level. Such improvements are deemed necessary for enhancing the educational landscape in the region. Solar panel installation in schools Out of 18,785 government schools in Jammu and Kashmir, only 3,304 (17.6 per cent) have solar panels installed. The School Education Department (SED) has been instructed to identify and address gaps in solar panel coverage using data from UDISE+, aiming to enhance energy sustainability in these schools. Skill education implementation Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, 1,869 schools were approved for skill education, but only 1,621 schools have implemented it, covering 72.19 per cent of the targeted schools. There is a pressing need to extend skill education to all approved schools, focusing on various sectors and job roles to better prepare students for future employment. Zero enrolment and pupil-teacher ratio A troubling aspect revealed is that 65 schools, including 62 primary and three upper primary, have zero student enrolment. Additionally, 16 per cent of schools have been identified with an adverse Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR). The MoE has urged the rationalisation of teachers to address these issues. Calls for immediate action The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) expressed concern over these findings during a Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting in March. The SED has been instructed to address these gaps within the current year, using data and resources effectively to propose solutions to the board for approval.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Schools rush to meet state GIS tagging deadline
Nagpur: Schools across Maharashtra have been directed to complete GIS tagging of their premises by April 30, using a newly launched application — Maha School GIS . Officials said schools in the Nagpur division are progressing well and are set to meet the deadline. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative is part of a major push towards digitising school infrastructure data, following the official rollout of the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday. Schools had already begun uploading their data through the Maha School GIS app last week. The application uses advanced geospatial technology to log the precise location of schools across the state, while also integrating photographs and key data points. The system is designed to feed into a unified dashboard, consolidating crucial information such as student and staff counts, infrastructure details, computing resources, and other amenities. It directly synchronises with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), a central government portal that tracks educational statistics nationwide. To access the app, school heads must log in using their UDISE code and registered mobile number. Once authenticated, the app displays the school's current UDISE+ profile. Administrators are then required to geotag the school's location — capturing latitude, longitude, and a timestamp — and upload five mandatory photos: the school nameplate, full building view, kitchen area, separate toilets for boys and girls, and water facilities. For data authenticity, all uploads must be carried out while physically present on the school premises. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This GIS-based system addresses longstanding gaps in the educational data framework, particularly in areas such as village location, population distribution, road connectivity, inter-school distances, and access to government services. By linking this information with UDISE+ records, the state aims to build a robust database to guide policy formulation and improve programme implementation. The Maha School GIS initiative is expected to significantly strengthen educational planning, giving policymakers and administrators real-time insights to better allocate resources, address infrastructure deficits, and ultimately raise the standard of education across Maharashtra.
