Behind every dataset is a story of research, collaboration, and problem-solving. At Sunstone Institute, we have gathered data to support the mapping of 5.9 million schools, enhancing our understanding of global education infrastructure.
How do we collect data?
We source data from relevant government authorities like Ministries of Education and Statistics, and in some cases, from reputable national news outlets. This approach ensures accuracy and credibility. The data is organized and aggregated based on the official UN country list.
What challenges do we face? Collecting data on a global scale comes with its set of challenges:
– Inconsistent reporting across different platforms
– Lost data sources due to poorly maintained government websites
– Missing data for recent years
– Limited accessibility in certain regions
– Frequent data updates causing discrepancies
– Inconsistent ISCED data reporting
– Lack of clarity on school types (public vs. private) and levels (pre-primary, primary, secondary)
How do we solve them? We address these challenges by:
– Aggregating fragmented data at the national level for a unified view
– Cross-referencing multiple sources to fill data gaps
– Ensuring transparency with data sources
– Making data more accessible via Sunstone & GitHub repository soon
Why it Matters: Not just numbers, this data powers the mapping of 5.9 million schools, guiding decisions to improve education accessibility and infrastructure worldwide.
