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ISLAMABAD, Nov 23 (APP):Federal Secretary for Education and Professional Training, Nadeem Mahbub, has appreciated the collective efforts for developing a national education data-sharing framework, stressing that maintaining a careful balance between data sharing and protection against misuse is essential.
He was addressing a policy dialogue jointly organised in Islamabad by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) and the Data and Research in Education – Research Consortium (DARE-RC), attended by policymakers, researchers, and representatives of development organisations. The purpose of the dialogue was to build consensus on a national education data-sharing framework for Pakistan. Participants emphasised the responsible use of education data to improve policy-making and strengthen learning opportunities for children across the country.
Representatives from government institutions, universities and development organisations highlighted the need for strong, transparent and ethical data systems. The discussion covered the structure and objectives of the proposed framework, ethical responsibilities in data usage, clear data access protocols and effective accountability mechanisms, said a Press release on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Nadeem Mahbub said that the Pakistan Institute of Education has been playing a commendable role in strengthening the national education data landscape.
He stressed once again that a balance must be maintained between sharing data across the system and safeguarding it from any form of misrepresentation or misuse. He also welcomed the formulation of a clear and effective way forward as a result of the dialogue.
Salim Salamah, Deputy Group Head for Health, Education and Demography at the British High Commission, said that Pakistan already possesses a strong base of education data; however, there is a need to make better use of it. He explained that FCDO’s vision for DARE-RC is to promote evidence-based policymaking in order to develop a system that serves the needs of all children. He also appreciated PIE’s growth and its collaboration with partners to establish transparent and ethical data systems.
Director General of the Pakistan Institute of Education, Dr Muhammad Shahid Soroya, stated that provincial-level data consolidation and evidence-based analysis were among PIE’s core responsibilities.
He noted that trust was the most critical factor in this work, ensuring that data would be used in a fair and constructive manner. He thanked DARE-RC, FCDO and other partners for supporting PIE in developing data-sharing protocols.
DARE-RC Team Lead Dr Ehtasham Anwar said that effective policy action is not possible without strong data systems.
He clarified that the objective of the dialogue was to develop an ethical national data-sharing framework encompassing data collection, sharing, usage and protection.
He added that consistent and effective use of data, rather than one-off exercises, is necessary to improve education outcomes.
At the conclusion of the session, DARE-RC presented key takeaways and next steps, reaffirming its commitment to continued collaboration with PIE to strengthen systems and tools for high-quality and reliable education data.
The dialogue also featured valuable contributions from Dr Kanwal Ameen, Dr Farah, Rabia Awan, Izza Farrukh and Mr Abid Gill, along with other education experts and panel members, who shared their insights and recommendations.