Minister Cannon T.D. remarks at GPE Reception on Investing in Education Data Solutions
Speech
27 September 2018I am delighted to be here this evening with all of you. It is encouraging to see the range of people gathered here. All of us determined to help children the world over achieve their full potential through quality learning.
We all know the difference that education can make and we all have a role in facilitating quality learning through strengthening education systems.
And we need timely and quality data and analysis in order to make the right decisions and make best use of limited resources.
Developments in digital technology create real opportunities to transform data collection and analysis and I am pleased to see so many leading tech companies here tonight and contributing their expertise through the Roundtable.
As founder of EXCITED, the Digital Learning Movement, I am passionate about the role of technology in education, for learning but also to support better policies, planning and management.
Ireland published a new national Data Strategy for education last year because we recognise the need for continual improvements of management information systems for education.
The strategy’s vision is to have “First Class Data for Education”. That means quality data that is robust and timely being consistently available to those involved in decision making processes that impact the delivery of education. I think this is a goal we should all aim for.
Ireland is a strong advocate for collective action to find global solutions for global problems.
We value the role that the Global Partnership for Education plays in convening the right people and organisations to find those global solutions.
And our confidence in GPE was clearly demonstrated when we committed to doubling our support during the replenishment conference in Senegal earlier this year.
The Knowledge and Innovation Exchange is an exciting development which can respond to the needs and capacities of GPE developing country partners, generating new learning, innovations and solutions to be disseminated and available to all through the partnership.
I hope that Ireland will participate by sharing our developments and innovations in education and also learning from the partnership.
And I look forward to welcoming many of you to Dublin in December for the next GPE Board meeting.