Education

Open school data is an important part of the broader move towards more open government across Europe and has the potential to improve educational outcomes for learners. However, while some countries have advanced frameworks supported by strong technologies, others are still in the early stages of development, with limited access to granular data.
This report explores the implementation of open school data across States Parties to the European Cultural Convention, represented in the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Education. Developed by UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) in conjunction with the Council of Europe, it draws from a comprehensive desk review, an online survey sent to all states parties and in-depth interviews with selected countries on their open school data practices.
Key findings reveal several challenges: inconsistent data standards, outdated technological infrastructure, limited capacities and awareness, and resistance due to concerns over scrutiny, equity and privacy. Yet countries have developed innovative approaches. “Open by default” policies, use of artificial intelligence, application programming interface and data visualisation tools, and data literacy campaigns showcase the potential of open school data to enhance transparency and data-driven decision making in education.
Recommendations focus on improving the quality of data, promoting public engagement, fostering peer learning and international collaboration and developing an open school data maturity index – all actions aimed at stronger open governance and improved learning across European education systems.