Free State; Western Cape; Gauteng; and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces emerged as the top winners of the DBE Data Summit Awards organised to acknowledge top data users and advocates in various categories, measured by the Education Management and Information Systems (EMIS) and DDD teams from 1 March 2023 to 29 February 2024 with reference to Data Systems and Processes (Division A) and EMIS Advocacy and Support (Division B). Other categories were measured in Data Submission and Usage (Division C) and Upskilling and Impact (Division D).

 The DBE’s EMIS division currently captures and manages the information of more than 13 million learners through three core systems. The first is the South African School Administration Management System (SA-SAMS), primarily designed to strengthen school administration and management and promote data driven culture in schools. The second is the Learner Unit Record Information and Tracking System (LURITS), the national education data warehouse that stores information on every educator and learner (from Grade R to Grade 12) in South Africa for official reporting purposes. The third is the online Data Driven Districts (DDD) dashboard, an initiative that is implemented by the DBE, in collaboration with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) and their implementing partner, the non-profit organisation, New Leaders Foundation. This dashboard aggregates and visualises source data captured on SA-SAMS, in near-real time, for monitoring on a more frequent basis. It delivers insights that enable education officials to track, predict and assist learners at risk.

 According to EMIS, the Awards will encourage provinces to promote excellence in data use for effective administration of schools. The identified winners were honoured for their use of and advocacy for critical systems like SA-SAMS, LURITS and the DDD Dashboard in improving quality learning outcomes in public schools. Unpacking several categories of the Awards, Ms Ayesha Suleman, Director for EMIS, said that the winning provinces, districts and officials scooped 21 trophies and several certificates of excellence in various categories. “In Division A, the provinces were recognized for adoption and adherence to critical data systems and processes. The categories included Best Use of SA-SAMS Reporting; Best SA-SAMS Adoption and Support; Best LURITS Learner Uploads; Best LURITS Readiness; and Best EMIS Data Usage and Reporting. In Division B, we intended to recognise efforts to improve the range and quality of departmental data collection and use, including the adoption of and support for a single data administration system. The categories ranged from Best EMIS Priorities Implementation; Best Overall SA-SAMS and EMIS Systems Support to SA-SAMS Advocate Of the Year: School which was awarded to Mr CME Sibisi, the Principal of Twelelo Primary School in Gauteng, and SA-SAMS Advocate Of the Year: Non-School which was awarded to Chief Director for National Assessments and Public Examinations, Dr Rufus Poliah. The EMIS Champion of the Year was awarded to Deputy Director for DBE: EMIS, Ms Carinne van der Westhuizen.

We also honoured the winners in the Data Submission and Usage (Division C). The categories in this division were intended to recognise behaviours linked to submissions to, and the use of, the Data Driven Districts (DDD) Dashboard, which contribute to building a culture of data-driven decision making in South Africa. The following categories were considered Fastest Growing DDD Data Community; Top DDD Weekly Submissions; Top DDD Final Term Submissions: Unique Schools; Top DDD Final Term Submissions: Overall Average; and Top DD data Usage. Division D focused on Upskilling and Impact and was designed to recognise DDD Dashboard-related data advocacy, culture building and usage that achieves impact. The categories under this division were Our Data Story; Blended Data Learning; Capability Builders; Best Collaborative Adoption Effort; Longest-Serving Programme Supporter; and Best Overall Partnership,”

Ms Suleman further highlighted: “The data we collect, and use is invaluable—not only for the over half a million employees of the Department of Basic Education—but for a number of other government departments and organizations that utilise our data. It has become the foundation for smarter, better, faster and more efficient decision-making, shaping policies that directly impact our learners. Tonight, we honour those who are truly changing the way things are done. We are beginning to see the potential of data and how it can transform the education sector. Most importantly, we are seeing the impact on our learners—those who benefit the most from the work we do”.