Software Development and Productivity Tools Topic: Productivity Tools

Research into the statistical data surrounding education in Jamaica between the years 2013 and 2018. The aim is to develop an understanding how Excel-based data visualization and analysis can address genuine educational issues.

From the Statistical Institute of Jamaica Website (https://statinja.gov.jm/), access the Education Statistics section (under Demographic & Social), to retrieve data pertaining to Jamaican education from 2013 to 2018. The Education Statistics page may open showing a table on the 'Number of Teachers by Level' table, but note other tables on the left side of the page that can be opened by clicking on them. Download the data in Excel format, from the following tables in the left side column: Allocations to the Ministry of Education 2009/10-2016/17 (Download: 2013-2018)

Table Grade 4 Literacy Results (Download: 2016-2018)

Grade 4 Numeracy Test Results (Download: 2016-2018)

Number of Teachers by Level (Download: 2013-2018)

Download will initiate after clicking on the XLS file after first ensuring to select the appropriate date range and format options.

Dashboard Creation

Choose five significant educational metrics that highlight key challenges in Jamaica's education system. These metrics are line items from any of the tables. Use them to make comparisons. For example, literacy results (males vs females), or the amount of secondary school teachers compared to funds allocations by the Ministry. You could highlight trends that you see happening over the years for a particular item. You must decide which statistics you want to evaluate. However you must use similar years to compare, and some table cover more years than others. Utilize Excel's charting and graphing tools to create graphs or other visual representations of the selected metrics over the specified timeframe. Problem Identification and Solutions Analyze the visualizations to identify prevalent challenges or trends within Jamaica's education landscape. This may involve identifying concerning trends, or shifts in educational numbers. Based on you analysis, suggest strategies to address the identified problems or challenges. Ensure your solutions are supported by the visualizations you've generated.