The Department of Basic Education (DBE) commissioned a specialist Geographical Information Systems (GIS) service provider in 2012 to use a range of complementary datasets to provide graphical and descriptive representations of various variables relating to schools and education districts.

 The result is a report which explores, in some detail, a series of chapters on district composition and a number of variables that impact on schools and districts in both single factor and in comparative tables and graphics. The factors which are explored include the profiling of education districts, performance of schools and districts in both Matric and ANAs, poverty indices for districts, infrastructure issues at school level, social issues at learner level and teacher profiles.

The Provincial, District & School Planning, Management & Monitoring Tools were developed to provide the sector with standardised quarterly tools & reporting guideline as mandated in the requirements of the National Education Policy Act (NEPA), 1996 and in response to reporting requirements related to the Delivery Agreement and the Presidency. The tools were published in 2013 but remain relevant for use in the current academic year.

These research protocols are intended to assist the Department, stakeholders and researcher in understanding the processes to be followed for conducting research in schools, districts, provinces and the Department.