The Pacific Community’s (SPC) Education Data team embarked on a in-country mission to help strengthen education data quality and increase awareness of the Pacific Schools Information Management System (PacSIMS) in the Solomon Islands in February 2025.
Developed by SPC, PacSIMS is a suite of web-based softwares that link multiple disparate data sources together into a single database. This Pacific-developed software supports ministries in their accountability efforts by facilitating evidence-based decision making, drawing on quality data that goes beyond exam results.
The four-day country meeting convened managers and technical staff of Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) that included presentations, demonstrations, trainings and capacity building sessions.
The convening was initiated by Dr Franco Rodie, Permanent Secretary of MEHRD, who reinforced the strategic importance of SPC’s initiative as well as outlined the objectives and expected outcomes of the mission.
Sandeep Singh, SPC’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) Officer, provided the MEHRD staff with hands-on experience on data preparation processes for the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS) country questionnaires which contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 targets.
“Working with the MEHRD staff led to an increase in the staff knowledge on how to use PacSIMS and all its specific modules. The convening also allowed the participants to fully understand how PacSIMS can be utilised to produce quality data that can then be used for SDG 4 reporting and even making an impressionable impact on the country’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) policies,” explained Singh.
The demonstration sessions allowed participants to understand PacSIMS value in fulfilling national commitments such as maintaining staff records and school profiles and streamlining school administrative processes and student data management.
Peter Suiramo, Manager of Information Services at MEHRD explained that “PacSIMS has the potential to enhance education data management in the Solomon Islands greatly. With the country’s scattered islands and connectivity challenges, PacSIMS provides a more efficient and adaptable way to collect and manage school data in real time. PacSIMS will contribute to better planning and improved learning outcomes throughout the Solomon Islands”.
The MEHRD’s Information Services Division (ISD) received a tailored session on completing UIS and SDG 4 templates and questionnaires as well as training on addressing some of the data gaps. The ISD is responsible for managing the Solomon Islands Education Management System (SIEMIS) and overseeing various other education data processes.
The country mission also contributed towards updating the statistical digest for MEHRD in Solomon Islands, ensuring that data reporting is comprehensive and up to date. Discussions on the EMIS policy template were held with key representatives from the Policy, Monitoring & Evaluation, and ISD teams, fostering a collaborative approach to policy development.
SPC will continue to monitor the education data needs of the region, ensuring the availability of quality education data and a well-resourced regional education sector.
