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ON THE
DDD CALENDAR

Weekly/term-to-date submissions are essential to ensuring a smooth year-end data submission process, so don’t miss next week’s webinars for tips and guidelines. Also coming up is a refresher on DDD login and navigation, plus using DDD to craft your school improvement plans. Click any link below to reserve a seat, or book via the Learning Hub.

TOPIC: Term-to-date submissions. Learn why and how to do it; what you need to know about the data validation process; and how to handle common challenges encountered.

TOPIC: DDD login and navigation. Not sure where to start? Join the team for a step-by-step demonstration of how to log in to the dashboard and find your way to the key features.

TOPIC: School Achievement Report. Find out how to extract and download the Excel data from this report; analyse it; and use the insights to populate an effective School Improvement Plan.

DATA NEWS
AND UPDATES

FLYING THE DATA FLAG: EDTECH 2025

The DBE and DDD teams were at EdTech 2025 in Cape Town this week, exploring the topic of “Building EdTech readiness in under-resourced contexts.” Seen above are the DBE’s EMIS Director, Ayesha Suleman, and Henry Kavuma, Chief Education Specialist for ICT in Education, in a discussion on government’s role as a system enabler in the EdTech value chain. The team were in good company, with policymakers, investors, EdTech entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. To find out more about EdTech, click here.



ATTENDANCE COUNTS! Policy dictates that attendance must be captured throughout exams, up until the last day of term (and even on non-exam writing days). Keep your weekly attendance registers up-to-date, or you may struggle to submit your Term 4 data at term end.	KEEP ON SUBMITTING Weekly/term-to-date data submissions are critical to ensure you are able to submit your end-of-term data without hassle. Avoid problems or having to resubmit at the end of the year, by ensuring that you do your weekly/term-to-date submissions on time, every time.	VERIFY AND VALIDATE If something is worth doing, then it is worth doing properly! Be sure to validate your data before you click submit, to double-check that all attendance records are up to date. Take time to validate your database first, so that it saves you time later.


	LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS: HERE'S AN AGE-OLD LESSON IN DATA LEARNING

	Abraham Wald was an unlikely hero. But way back, during World War II, this mathematician used data to become just that. He was tasked with advising the military on how to reinforce its war planes. Engineers' had collected data from aircraft returning from the battlefields, which showed clusters of bullet holes on the wings and fuselage. Their conclusion seemed obvious — put more armor there. But Wald thought differently. He realised that the engineers' data came only from planes that made it back safely. The real question was not where surviving planes were hit, but where those that didn’t return had been struck. Wald identified those untouched areas — such as the engines — as the planes’ most vulnerable points. His insight led to smarter armor placement and saved countless lives. This story offers a powerful reminder for educators using data today. It’s easy to focus on what’s visible — test scores, attendance rates, or performance gaps — and draw quick conclusions. Yet, like Wald, effective data-minded educators also look for the missing data, and the deeper issues behind the numbers: the learners not represented, the less visible barriers. Data is a starting point, not a verdict. By thinking beyond the obvious and seeking the stories behind the statistics, South Africa’s educators can make smarter, fairer, and more impactful decisions that truly support every learner. How are you using DDD insights to see beyond the obvious? Email our team to share your story with us.

		MY DATA JOURNEY: “Let’s grow old together, with DDD!”

		“Our principals don’t gatekeep. They exchange ideas, share successes, support each other and have a real teachable spirit.” For Circuit Coordinator Ms Dimakatso Mohlahleli, who oversees the Parys and Vredefort schools in Fezile Dabi District, Free State, this spirit of collaboration is enabled, in part, by the DDD Dashboard. What began as a simple data-checking tool has become, in her words, “the first place I go to whenever I want to analyse all the schools in my circuit and identify areas that need attention.” Through DDD, Ms Mohlahleli sees her entire circuit at a glance — from learner and educator profiles to trends that reveal deeper challenges. One key use has been identifying over-aged learners, then working with principals and circuit managers to uncover root causes and implement targeted support. “Those conversations often spark meaningful action,” she explains. The dashboard also helps anticipate and plan for change. It flags undocumented learners and signals future capacity challenges, allowing schools to manage admissions proactively. Educator data adds another dimension: “We can see who’s due to retire and in which year. This helps us plan ahead and find replacements best suited for each position.” Beyond analytics, Ms Mohlahleli uses DDD to nurture professional growth. The Learning Hub, she says, is now the principals’ “go-to space” for guidance and shared learning. For her, DDD represents more than data — it’s a mindset. “The dashboard is user-friendly and full of useful information. I always tell others who are hesitant to use it — let’s grow old together, with DDD.”


		To share feedback on this newsletter email: Communication@newleaders.co.za				For DDD technical assistance contact: help@dbedashboard.co.za



		dbedashboard		The DDD programme is an initiative of the Department of Basic Education, in collaboration with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and New Leaders Foundation.

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