- Regional capacity-building workshop held in Saudi Arabia, bringing together Arab education and statistics officials
- Focused on strengthening SDG 4 monitoring skills, improving data quality, and aligning national systems with global standards
- Aimed at building stronger, more reliable education data systems to support informed policymaking, workforce planning, and long-term skills development
A regional workshop in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, trained Arab statisticians to better monitor progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which focuses on quality education. UNESCO’s Regional Office in Beirut organized the event with support from the Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Officials from Ministries of Education and National Statistical Offices across Arab countries took part in the program. The workshop aimed to improve skills in collecting, analyzing, and reporting education data. Many countries face challenges such as scattered data systems, inconsistent methods, and gaps in meeting international standards.
Experts guided participants through practical exercises and hands-on sessions. They learned how to apply global frameworks like the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011). Trainers also introduced tools to measure learning outcomes, track education spending, and use household surveys more effectively.
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The workshop also created space for one-on-one discussions with experts to address country-specific data challenges, especially in nations facing difficult conditions.
This was the second workshop in a regional series to strengthen education data systems. Participants stressed the need for continued training, as accurate data supports job planning, skills development, and informed education policies across the Arab region.
