International definition
For the global monitoring, total net primary enrolment rate in primary education is used. This indicator also includes children of primary school age enrolled in secondary education: total net primary enrolment rate in primary education is the number of children of official primary school age who are enrolled in primary or secondary education as a percentage of the total children of the official primary school age population.
Primary and secondary education are defined according to ISCED97.
Where more than one system of primary education exists within the country the most widespread or common structure is used for determining the official school age group.
Process of obtaining data
Data are gathered through questionnaires sent annually to countries which are typically completed by ministries of education and/or national statistical offices. Population estimates are provided by the UN Population Division.
National sources
Enrolment data are obtained from the Ministries of Education or national statistical offices.
Adjustments
UNESCO-UIS, if necessary, adjusts nationally reported in order to take account of:
1) Net enrolment rates which exceed 100% due to inconsistencies between population and enrolment. In this case the indicator is adjusted by the Unesco Institute for Statistics (UIS) using a capping factor so that the Gender Parity Index of the new set of values remains the same as for the original values but setting the higher of the male and female NERs to 100% and adjusting the other values proportionately. When an NER exceeds 105 % is then considered dirty and it is not published.
2) Under-reporting (e.g. Enrolments in a type of education – such as private education or special education – not reported by the country and/or Enrolments in a part of the country not reported by the country). In such cases, the results – if published – will normally be designated as UIS estimates.
3) Over-reporting (for example, Enrolments in other programmes which have been reported by the country together with Enrolments at the primary level). In such cases, the results – if published – will normally be designated as UIS estimates.
4) Enrolments of unknown age if they constitute more than 5% of the total (no estimation is made if they are 5% or less). Enrolments of unknown age are redistributed across known ages.
5) Inconsistencies with the ISCED 1997. Enrolment data compiled by UNESCO-UIS are then adjusted to be consistent with the ISCED 1997 and therefore comparable across countries.
Consultation with countries
The principal UNESCO-UIS questionnaire respondents at the national ministries of education and the official UNESCO National Commissions for Education are consulted prior to the dissemination of all related indicators.
Explanation of most common discrepancies between national and international estimates
1) Differences between national education systems and ISCED97.
2) Use of different sources.
3) Differences in coverage (i.e. the extent to which different types of education – e.g. private or special education – or different types of programmes e.g. adult education or early childhood care and education - are included in one and not in the other).
4) Differences between the national population estimates and the United Nations Population Division population estimates.
Comparison of national and international data
National data Data available at UIS
Year / Data / Data source / Numerator (enrolment) / Denominator: (population) / Discrepancies? Causes? / Denominator: (population) / Numerator (enrolment) / Data source / Data / Year1990 / 1990
1991 / 1991
1992 / 1992
1993 / 1993
1994 / 1994
1995 / 1995
1996 / 1996
1997 / 1997
1998 / 1998
1999 / 345,396 / 285,688 / NSO/ME / 82.7 / 1999
2000 / 344,930 / 286,858 / NSO/ME / 83.2 / 2000
2001 / 345,761 / 289,770 / NSO/ME / 83.8 / 2001
2002 / 348,349 / 290,451 / NSO/ME / 83.4 / 2002
2003 / 352,353 / 286,014 / NSO/ME / 81.2 / 2003
2004 / 356,898 / 279,716 / NSO/ME / 78.4 / 2004
2005 / 360,709 / 273,203 / NSO/ME / 75.7 / 2005
2006 / 362,873 / 267,153 / NSO/ME / 73.6 / 2006
2007 / 363,191 / 260,105 / NSO/ME / 71.6 / 2007
2008 / 362,060 / 260,116 / NSO/ME / 71.8 / 2008
NSO/ME, National Statistical Office or Ministry of Education
National definition
Data sources used at international level
- Ministry of Education and/or National Statistical Office
Other data on file at UIS but not taken into account for MDG monitoring
Data source / Reason for exclusion for MDG monitoringData used at national level but not included in the MDG monitoring by UIS
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How to submit missing or new data on enrolment for international monitoring to UIS?
New data as well as data not listed in this document can be send to: Mr. Talal El Hourani, UNESCO-UIS, e-mail: .
Remarks
If there are any errors or omissions in this document, thank you for returning a corrected copy of this file by email to: and
UNSD and ESCWA meeting, Beirut, December 2009