European countries step up transparency in education with open school data, says new Council of Europe and IIEP-UNESCO report
Across Europe, education systems are increasingly turning to open school data to improve educational governance and combat fraud and corruption, according to a new report published by the Council of Europe’s Platform on Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education (ETINED) and authored by UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO).
Open school data in European education systems examines how countries collect, publish, and use school-level data on everything from budgets and infrastructure to teacher qualifications and student performance. Building on previous IIEP research on open school data, the report shares innovations, challenges, and opportunities for making education more open, accountable, and participatory.
“This report comes at a key moment for education systems in Europe, as transparency and the use of data are now central to education policies, to citizens’ expectations, and to debates on artificial intelligence,” says Philippe Ajuelos, Ministerial administrator of data, algorithms, and source codes, from the French Ministry of National Education. “Open school data is not only about transparency: it is also a lever for trust, a duty, and a way to develop data literacy among students, teachers, and citizens.”
Access the report here
We hope this collaboration between the Council of Europe and IIEP-UNESCO will be useful to all those striving to build education systems that are open, participatory, and transparent.
Martín Benavides, IIEP Director
Open, accountable education systems on the rise
Drawing on surveys, desk research, and in-depth interviews with education officials across the continent, the report finds that open school data has transitioned from a niche to a mainstream phenomenon. “Open school data initiatives have become increasingly common, emerging as part of broader efforts towards open government and transparency,” the report says.
Countries such as Estonia, France, Ireland, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom have implemented comprehensive systems that enable citizens to access information on school finances, infrastructure, and student outcomes. Others, including Albania, Greece, and the Slovak Republic, are in earlier stages of development.
Innovative practices are also emerging to create more efficient and user-friendly data systems. Initiatives in the Netherlands and the UK are integrating artificial intelligence, chatbots, and application programming interfaces (APIs) to make data more user-friendly. In Belgium and Cyprus, collaborative policies have led to “open by default” policies that automatically publish school data unless specific exceptions apply.
Spotlight on England’s Explore Education Statistics (EES) platform
Launched in 2020, England’s Explore Education Statistics (EES) overhauled how the public accesses school data while streamlining data publication for statisticians. Automating many processes, it cuts the time and resources needed for releasing data, making standardized, machine-readable information available through a centralized platform. Today, schools, local authorities, and researchers can navigate education data more easily, and plans include real-time updates from school management systems, enabling daily updates.
Growing engagement from parents, civil society, and local communities
While national governments and education institutions remain the primary users of open school data, initiatives are now reaching broader communities. Open school data is not just a tool for administrators, according to authors Muriel Poisson, IIEP-UNESCO, and Elira Jorgoni, Consultant, but a resource for wider societal engagement and transparency.
In Ireland and France, initiatives are fostering a data-driven decision-making culture, ensuring that open school data benefits not just policy-makers but society at large.
Spotlight on Lithuania’s Open Education Data
During the COVID-19 crisis, Lithuania strengthened its Law on Statistics and gave Statistics Lithuania authority to manage state data. This led to the launch of school data dashboards that made information more accessible and engaging through visualizations and analysis. Supported by the State Data Agency, the initiative has improved transparency and fostered new analytical skills across government. Despite challenges, including limited user uptake, Lithuania is advancing open data in education.
Publishing open school data increases transparency and enables evidence-based decisions. It helps target investments, promote equity, build public trust, and foster innovation by allowing researchers and businesses to develop new tools. In the long run, it strengthens the education system’s responsiveness to demographic and social changes.
Vadimas Ivanovas, State Data Agency (Statistics, Lithuania)
Common challenges and a way forward
However, common challenges across European countries persist, including outdated infrastructure, poor data quality, and limited capacities or awareness on how to use data. Resistance is also common because of the fear of misusing or misinterpreting data. Additionally, there are concerns that exposing educational disparities through open data could reinforce inequities, especially for low-performing schools.
To overcome these challenges, the report recommends:
- Developing clear principles and guidance for open school data initiatives;
- Improving the quality and comprehensiveness of educational data;
- Engaging stakeholders through consultations and training programmes;
- Finding a balance between transparency and protecting sensitive data;
- Harnessing emerging technologies to make data more accessible;
- Capturing user feedback for tracking progress and impact;
- Developing an open school data maturity index at the European level;
- Fostering exchanges and peer learning between States Parties.
While open school data initiatives have made significant strides in recent years, addressing outstanding obstacles and leveraging best practices can further promote transparency, enhance accountability, and improve educational quality across Europe.
