Source
Source Source metadata Source metadataUNESCO Institute for Statistics
Data source(s) used Data source(s) usedSchool register or school census for data on enrolment by level of education. UNPD population estimates for school-age population.
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Other data characteristics Other data characteristicsTo show the general level of participation in a given level of education. It indicates the capacity of the education system to enrol students of a particular age group. It can also be a complementary indicator to net enrolment rate (NER) by indicating the extent of over-aged and under-aged enrolment.
Variables collected Variables collectedTotal enrolment for a given level of education. Population of the age group corresponding to the specified level.
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Aggregation & consolidation Aggregation & consolidationBy sex and level of education.
Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptTotal enrolment in a specific level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the eligible official school-age population corresponding to the same level of education in a given school year.
Transformations TransformationsNumber of pupils (or students) enrolled in a given level of education regardless of age expressed as percentage of the population of the age group which officially corresponds to the given level of education.
Other Aspects Other Aspects Quality comments Quality commentsGER at each level of education should be based on total enrolment in all types of schools and education institutions, including public, private and all other institutions that provide organized educational programmes.
Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsInterpretations
A high GER generally indicates a high degree of participation, whether the pupils belong to the official age group or not. A GER value approaching or exceeding 100% indicates that a country is, in principle, able to accommodate all of its school-age population, but it does not indicate the proportion already enrolled. The achievement of a GER of 100% is therefore a necessary but not sufficient condition for enrolling all eligible children in school.
When the GER exceeds 90% for a particular level of education, the aggregate number of places for pupils is approaching the number required for universal access of the official age group. However, this is a meaningful interpretation only if one can expect the under-aged and over-aged enrolments to decline in the future to free places for pupils from the expected age group.
Limitations
GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged pupils/students because of early or late entrants, and grade repetition. In this case, a rigorous interpretation of GER needs additional information to assess the extent of repetition, late entrants, etc.
School register or school census for data on enrolment by level of education. UNPD population estimates for school-age population.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics<br>
Total enrolment for a given level of education. Population of the age group corresponding to the specified level.
To show the general level of participation in a given level of education. It indicates the capacity of the education system to enrol students of a particular age group. It can also be a complementary indicator to net enrolment rate (NER) by indicating the extent of over-aged and under-aged enrolment.
Total enrolment in a specific level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the eligible official school-age population corresponding to the same level of education in a given school year.
By sex and level of education.
Number of pupils (or students) enrolled in a given level of education regardless of age expressed as percentage of the population of the age group which officially corresponds to the given level of education.
Interpretations<br><br>A high GER generally indicates a high degree of participation, whether the pupils belong to the official age group or not. A GER value approaching or exceeding 100% indicates that a country is, in principle, able to accommodate all of its school-age population, but it does not indicate the proportion already enrolled. The achievement of a GER of 100% is therefore a necessary but not sufficient condition for enrolling all eligible children in school. <br><br>When the GER exceeds 90% for a particular level of education, the aggregate number of places for pupils is approaching the number required for universal access of the official age group. However, this is a meaningful interpretation only if one can expect the under-aged and over-aged enrolments to decline in the future to free places for pupils from the expected age group. <br><br>Limitations<br><br>GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged pupils/students because of early or late entrants, and grade repetition. In this case, a rigorous interpretation of GER needs additional information to assess the extent of repetition, late entrants, etc.
GER at each level of education should be based on total enrolment in all types of schools and education institutions, including public, private and all other institutions that provide organized educational programmes.