Opportunities and Challenges for EMIS Implementation in the Caribbean

This report aims to identify relative strengths and weaknesses in Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) across the Caribbean region, as well as recommendations for improvement, by collating findings from analysis of EMIS implementation in three countries -Barbados (2022), Jamaica (2019), and Suriname (2019-20)- and a description of the Guyana EMIS. The analysis highlights three strengths across the countries analyzed: (i) use of annual school census as a data capturing tool; (ii) use of data and digital content for the management of students, learning, and teaching; and (iii) the availability of technological infrastructure in place to run the EMIS. It identifies challenges in: governance in terms of EMIS policy and design; various aspects of the collection, processing, storage, management, analysis and use of data; and access to the required physical infrastructure, equipment, technology, and internet connectivity. The document points to the need for an EMIS policy linked to ICT and education policies and to national objectives, a change management strategy, ongoing capacity building, and a closer collaboration between countries and with regional bodies, such as the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).