Project description
This research project is based on the RESEP–MSDF Education Data Partnership, which strengthens the use of learner-level administrative data in South Africa to improve evidence-based decision-making in education. The partnership supports the cleaning, linking and analysis of datasets drawn from the Data Driven Districts (DDD) programme, SA-SAMS and LURITS, together forming the most comprehensive longitudinal view of school performance and learner flows in the country.
The project builds analytical capacity within RESEP and provincial departments, supports provincial data governance, and produces applied research that informs policy dialogue between the DBE, MSDF and other partners.
The key themes of the project are:
- Data quality and integration
- Learner progression and repetition
- Teacher deployment and absenteeism
- Provincial data use and capacity
- Policy-relevant insights from administrative data
Funders and Partners
Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP), Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), Department of Basic Education, Provincial Education Departments, and the New Leaders Foundation
Our researchers were drawn from a range of South African universities, research organisations, private consultancies and the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the DBE.
Project outputs
Working papers & reports
van der Berg, Servaas et al. What SA-SAMS and LURITS Data Tells Us About Education. Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP), 2025
van der Berg, Servaas. Hofmeyr, Heleen. Van Wyk, Chris. Böhmer, Bianca. Clayton, Ros. Selkirk, Rebecca. Learning pathways and system performance in South African schools Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP), 2025
Media coverage
To view media coverage related to the MSDF project, click here.
