Words By Ka Man Mak
Data by Harsh Trivedi
Sunstone Institute is taking the initiative to explore global education data by first delving into school mapping with the aim to uncover potentially, crucial data-driven insights.
Graphic by Harsh Trivedi. Source: Sunstone Institute. Data as of Dec. 6, 2024.
See our data methodology.
Sunstone Institute is believed to be the first to make significant strides in mapping and counting schools globally. While the geospatial mapping of schools was only achieved for 70 countries, the research team successfully compiled a global school count. A total of 5,919,463 schools were identified across 190 countries, covering education levels from preschool to upper secondary (ISCED Levels 0–3).
The school count data adheres to the internationally recognised International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011 framework. In cases where national school data could not be directly categorised using ISCED 2011, Sunstone Institute carefully aligned it with each government’s definition of schools.
Despite the data gaps for both total school count and geospatial mapping data, this effort represents a significant milestone in managing and harmonising global education data.
The first known documentation of school mapping can be traced back to France in 1963. Since then, it has become an essential tool in education planning. It allows governments to analyse factors such as student and teacher travel distances, public transport availability, and school infrastructure conditions. By leveraging these insights, policymakers can make data-driven insights to address educational disparities and improve access to quality education.
Valuable Data-driven Insights for Education Systems
The potential of school mapping is already evident in several countries, particularly when it comes to education accessibility. In Malawi, school mapping has optimised locations for building new schools and improving teacher accessibility in remote areas. Researchers in Canada have assessed the long travel distances for indigenous students, while studies in Australia and Guatemala have highlighted childcare deserts and education deserts.
Other examples include, improving emergency response times for incidents near schools in the U.S., identifying schools near flood zones in Iran, and identifying high-risk traffic zones near schools to enhance student safety in New York. These diverse applications demonstrate how geospatial mapping can provide localized insights to inform strategic, evidence-based planning across various settings.
Beyond school locations, Sunstone Institute’s mapping initiative will also explore other possible critical metrics, such as teacher retention rates, student dropout rates, school violence incidents, and education performance outcomes. This approach will provide a comprehensive overview of the state of education in these countries, whilst also informing strategies to build more resilient education systems.
Education system resilience refers to the ability of an education system to continue functioning effectively during and after disruptions like natural disasters, pandemics, or teacher shortages. It involves a complex interplay between schools and broader social systems, including government policies, family, community support networks, healthcare services, transportation, and digital infrastructure. By understanding these interconnected factors, policymakers can develop more robust education policies.
The Global Education Crisis
It is widely known that education plays a critical role in breaking the poverty cycle, reducing inequalities, and fostering economic growth, healthy living, and social cohesion. Without education, children and youth are more likely to be trapped in poverty, limiting their opportunities for the future.
The Sunstone Institute’s mapping initiative comes amid a deepening global education crisis. UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay recently declared, “Education is in a state of emergency.” Despite decades of progress, the number of out-of-school children is rising. The exclusion of women and girls from education in Afghanistan, coupled with stagnation in global education provision, has worsened the crisis. “States must urgently remobilize if they do not want to sell out the future of millions of children.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 258 million children of primary- and secondary-school age were already out of school. Many who attended lacked basic literacy and numeracy skills. The pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, with 300 million children projected to lack basic literacy and numeracy skills by 2030. Alarmingly, only one in six countries is expected to achieve universal secondary education within this timeframe.
The crisis is particularly acute in conflict-affected regions, where 72 million out of 224 million school-aged children are out of school. Displaced children and girls bear the brunt of these disparities. With the global youth population growing rapidly, the need for education is urgent, as an estimated 600 million jobs must be created by 2030 to meet youth employment demands.
Even in high-income countries, not affected by arm conflicts, education systems are facing significant setbacks. Countries like Australia, Finland, and the Netherlands have seen a decline in their Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores in mathematics, reading, and science over the past decade. Disadvantaged students in these countries are disproportionately affected, exacerbating educational inequality.
Climate Change Disrupts Education
Climate change further complicates the education landscape. From 2000 to 2019, at least 60 major disasters across 30 countries disrupted education for over 11 million children, reports GADRRRES. These events destroyed 30,000 schools and caused the deaths of nearly 35,000 children.
Climate-related disruptions can also affect education indirectly. Damage to roads and bridges can prevent students from reaching schools, while food and water shortages can lead to malnutrition and absenteeism, particularly among vulnerable populations. Disease outbreaks from these conditions can further disrupt education, impacting the mental and physical health of students as well.
The Power of Education Data
Borhene Chakroun, Director of UNESCO’s Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, spoke on the essential role of data in shaping future-ready education during the engagement day ahead of the first conference on Education Data and Statistics. He used a maritime metaphor to illustrate its importance, “Just as a compass provides direction and a sextant determines position by using the stars, comprehensive and timely data illuminate the path forward.” This ensures that education systems can “navigate with the most current and complete information available,” allowing them to meet current needs while remaining adaptable to future changes in economies, labour markets, societies, and technology.
The Sunstone Institute’s school mapping initiative aligns with this vision, offering policymakers and educators the data-driven insights they need to navigate complex challenges and improve data management.
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