OBJECTIVE
To facilitate decisions on educational policies relating to quality development, access, equity and social justice through proactivity, enterprise and teamwork.

ROLE
RDS plays an advisory role in the policy development efforts of the Ministry by providing statistical information and researched data. The Section is also responsible for the implementation and monitoring of all capital projects funded through government grants and donor agencies.

FUNCTIONS
RDS comprises Development, Statistics, Research and Planning Units.
The main functions of these Units are:
. Collecting data on teachers, students, school curriculum, school buildings and facilities, finance, grants and other information for all primary, secondary and pre-schools annually.
. Maintaining various databases at RDS and the education districts by setting procedures, training and monitoring.
. Formulating policy papers based on perceived needs derived through statistical information and researched data.
. Facilitating the process of educational planning through the provision of statistical information.
. Facilitating the development of the Ministry's Corporate and Strategic Plan.
. Co-ordinating outside educational researchers' work and conducting research on issues pertaining to educational development.
. Assessing the current needs and projecting the long-term needs of the Ministry for school development and staff.
. Implementing capital projects in schools, monitoring their construction work and producing quarterly progress reports.
. Processing new school establishment for registration and recognition status.
. Processing payment of premium of school land leases that are on Native lease.
. Providing statistical information to the Permanent Secretary and senior officers of the Ministry, and stakeholders when requested.
. Producing the Ministry's Annual Report and other publications.
. Co-ordinating the implementation of special educational programmes for proper school management and professional upgrading of teachers.

SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES SERVED

The Section serves

. all primary(712), secondary(157), special schools(17), pre-schools(563) and teacher training colleges(4) by printing and posting customised Education Data Collection Forms for them.

. all government institutions by undertaking capital works.

. primary and secondary school by providing Building Grants, Compulsory Education Funds and Consolidation of Compulsory Education Funds.

. communities and school managements in establishing new schools and upgrading their facilities.

. private vocational schools by approving their facilities and courses for their establishment and recognition.

. local and overseas researchers.

. School teachers and management when providing training in programmes like Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Performance Management System(PMS), Comprehensive Hazard and Risk Management (CHARM) etc.

. UNESCO, World Bank, Bureau of Statistics, National Planning, other government ministries, NGOs and USP by providing statistical information on a regular basis.

PUBLICATIONS

1. OHS Manual for Schools
2. MOE Strategic Plan 2003-2005
3. MOE Annual Reports (from1996)