Provincial Education Data Workshop

30 Oct 2026
Provincial Education Data Workshop for officials from South Africa’s provincial education departments
30 Oct 2026

AFLEARN strengthens provincial education officials’ skills in data analysis and communication

In early October 2026, AFLEARN delivered a hands-on Provincial Education Data Workshop for officials from South Africa’s provincial education departments, with funding from the British Council.

The workshop was designed and facilitated by DataFirst Director Cally Ardington and SALDRU’s Emma Whitelaw, in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Basic Education (DBE). It aimed to strengthen officials’ capacity to analyse education data and communicate findings clearly and accurately in provincial reports.

Using National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination data and Statistics South Africa’s General Household Survey (GHS), participants developed practical Excel skills for transforming raw data into meaningful evidence for education planning and reporting.

The training was organised around three themes: 

  • moving from a policy question to the right data,
  • producing and critically interpreting evidence, and 
  • communicating findings through effective tables, visualisations and written analysis. 

Practical exercises covered:

  • Excel formulas and PivotTables, 
  • interpreting trends, 
  • understanding survey weights and uncertainty, 
  • identifying potential pitfalls in data interpretation, and 
  • presenting findings clearly for policy audiences.

The workshop concluded with a capstone exercise in which participants applied their new skills to develop an analysis relevant to provincial education reporting, bringing together data analysis, visualisation, and written communication.

The lively discussions, active participation, and opportunities for exchange between provincial officials, DBE colleagues, and researchers made the workshop a valuable opportunity to strengthen the practical use of education data in government.  Thank you to all the participants!

The training forms part of AFLEARN’s broader commitment to building capacity for the analysis, interpretation, and use of education data across Africa.