International goals 

The UIS is the official source of data used to monitor Education for All (EFA) and the education-related targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as related international initiatives. 

Tracking progress towards EFA

The Institute is the main data source for the EFA Global Monitoring Report (GMR), which provides an annual assessment of the world’s progress towards achieving the six Dakar goals adopted in 2000 at the World Education Forum. We work in close cooperation with the Report team and provide extensive information on students, teachers, adult literacy and education expenditure, as well as the number of children out of school.

The UIS produces international monitoring indicators based on its annual education survey in more than 200 Member States and territories. In addition to collecting data, the Institute develops new statistical and monitoring tools to better assess progress.

Tracking progress towards the MDGs

All UN Member States have pledged to meet the MDGs by the year 2015. The eight goals range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education.

A range of development organizations, donors and civil society groups are working with governments to achieve these goals.

Monitoring is a key component in this process. The UIS is the official source of data for measuring progress towards the following education-related goals.  

Goal 2

Governments should ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

Click on these official indicators to monitor progress:

• Adjusted net enrolment rate in primary education
• Proportion of pupils starting Grade 1 who reach the last grade of primary education
• Literacy rate of 15- to 24-year-olds

Click on these official indicators to monitor progress:

• Ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education
• Ratio of literate women to men between the ages of 15 and 24 years

Consult the UIS glossary for definitions of the indicators cited above. For more education indicators, please consult the UIS Data Centre.