Management Information System (MIS)

  The Management Information System (MIS) is an inevitable component of planning and implementation of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) Project. For effective implementation and monitoring of activities in the field of education, an MIS Cell is has been set up at the SSA Kerala State level Office at Thiruvananthapuram and in all 14 District Project Offices. The basic necessity for the success of any project is to have a continuous and unbiased assessment of the system. No project has ever been implemented successfully without a sound monitoring of decision support system.

The need of MIS
         In order to improve the quality and effectiveness of educational planning and management, a variety of data is needed in a format that confirms to the requirement of user agencies operating at various geographical and administrative hierarchies. Design and management of a consistent, efficient and functional information system for such a dispersed institutional network is major challenge facing the education sector. The move towards decentralization of decision making may not reduce the need for centralised database and monitoring system but will multiply the demand for a integrated, consistent, comprehensive and comparable information system. Organising efficient machinery for this is a difficult task that requires much expertise as well as technological and financial inputs.

          Management of the project has to be done at the central regional and the local levels. For this a mechanism for collecting, processing and analysis of relevant data covering the progress of the implementation of the project at each stage will be necessary. It covers the following information.

• The basic information on schools like infrastructure facilities - facilities for primary needs urban or rural etc.
• Enrolment by rate, gender, SC/ST and age
• Teachers educational qualification, age-experience and other related informations.
• Evaluation results
• Supplies and utilisation of education materials and funds
• Effective monitoring system covers all interventions of SSA
• Progress of EGS/AIE related issues
• Project scheduling and implementation of plan at every stage
• Database on research and evaluation
  Keeping in view of the above aspects, the main objective of MIS is as follows.

Objectives

1. To create a comprehensive data base at elementary level education in the state and to review the status every year.
2. To monitor enrolment and retention.
3. To monitor performance in respect of students' achievement 
4. Track the progress of delivery of project inputs.
5. To enable the planners to obtain updated information as and when needed regarding teacher requirements, material requirements etc.
6. To enable the managers the project scheduling implementation and watch the progress and flow of resource inputs and key education parameters.
7. Measure the progress towards the long-term development of objectives of the education sector.
8. Collection, compilation and analysis of component wise project data.

DISE (District Information System For Education)

          DISE is the computerized school database system developed for Educational Planning and Management at National, State, Districts, Sub-Districts and even school level. Since DISE reports are th major source for the preparation of Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) relating to SSA project, atmost care has been taken to ensure coverage of schools and data accuracy. National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi has supplied, modified sofware exclusively for all states to generate Cluster, Block District and State level reports.
          At the time of initiating District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) in 1994, it was felt that a sound information system is essential for the successful monitoring and implementation of the programme. The design and development of school information system was accorded high priority and NUEPA responded to this challenge by designing District Information System for Education (DISE) which was implemented in all the DPEP districts from 1994 onwards.

MIS - Best Practices

• State MIS & District MIS of SSA Kerala are fully equipped with most modern techniques available as of now and the manpower taken are highly expertized which suits the same..
• State MIS has achieved full computerization by in-house development of streamlined softwares that best suits the purpose of simplifying the work load of various departments in State Office.
• State MIS is properly maintaining the website www.keralassa.org which would be very helpful in dissemination of information about SSA Kerala and also other education related informations..
• State MIS has developed an Online Software for whole employee data collection and monitoring which covers all the BRCs/URCs, DPOs and also the State Office with facility to generate Unique Barcoded Identity Cards online.
• State MIS has developed an Online Software for Data Entry, Consolidation and Report generation of Environmental Assessment Survey, which can online update also.
• State MIS has developed another Online application for Baseline Assessment Study Conducted for which reports at any level can be retrieved just a click away.