Abstract

Use of GIS in Educational Planning and Management for Pakistan
Track: Education
Authors: Fawad Raza, Zafar Malik

Education is a critical determinant of economic and social development and also of household livelihoods and food security status. Public sector educational data is compiled and released almost every year in Pakistan. Lengthy tabulated report with missing geographic visualization is less friendly for the intended audiences. There was a need to improve this information, not only in terms of data quality but also in terms of linkages with technological leverage like GIS and WWW. Geospatial analysis allowed seeing the spatial patterns of various indicators and correlating them with proximity of other features like accessibility and drainage. This study aims to highlight the potential use of GIS to strengthen the utilization of available educational data and - in the longer term - improve its quality for analysis and policymaking. It also aims to kindle the education related discourse through highlighting synergies and anomalies among various indicators when depicted geographically.