South Sudan launches new DHIS2-based TVET-MIS
The Ministry of General Education and Instruction has officially launched its Technical and Vocational Education and Training Management Information System using DHIS2, a pioneering effort with work across multiple sectors and line ministries.
On 26 November 2024, South Sudan’s Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) launched its new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Management Information System (MIS), with support from partners including UNESCO, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the World Bank, international non-governmental organizations, and the TVET-Adhoc Committee Secretariat. More than 79 participants joined the event, marking a commitment to improve reporting, management, and analysis of TVET data across the country. The DHIS2 software platform is particularly suited to integrating different types of data, and has been used in the health sector in South Sudan for a number of years.
In South Sudan, Technical and Vocational Education and Training serves as a crucial avenue for meaningful youth engagement and empowerment, equipping learners with relevant skills to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. Since March 2024, the government has undertaken several initiatives to build a valuable and demand-responsive TVET system, with partner support. Strengthening the country’s TVET data landscape is a key part of these efforts, guided by the four overarching principles of sustainability, accountability, efficiency, and integration.
Addressing the TVET Data Challenge
The Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) is mandated to provide adequate and timely data to inform policy creation, planning, budgeting, and decision making for the education sector. With support from UNESCO Juba, MoGEI in 2024 developed an electronic TVET Management Information System (TVET-MIS) to improve reporting, management, and analysis of TVET data.
The ministry has worked effectively with key implementing partners to ensure data needs for all relevant line ministries—including the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Higher Education, and the National Bureau of Statistics—are harmonized. It has also built capacity among its staff and partners to manage and utilize the system. Focal persons at the state and TVET center levels received training and acquired technical skills to manage, analyze, and use the data. “Without data, we cannot make informed decisions, enroll learners, or plan for them,” said Under Secretary Hon. Kuyok Abol Kuyok.
Building a Demand-Responsive TVET-MIS
The digitized TVET-MIS was created with technical support from the HISP Centre at the University of Oslo (HISP UiO), HISP Tanzania, and HISP Uganda. The system captures data on the TVET centre profile, student and tutor details, student and tutor attendance, and related assets and facilities. It facilitates quick analysis, presentation, dissemination, and use of the collected data.
Ten months since its establishment, the system has improved access to clearly defined key performance indicators, which inform TVET sector programming and management. The collaboration among ministries and partners to harmonize and manage the TVET-MIS marks an important step toward ensuring the availability of appropriate investments and programs for South Sudan’s youth.
