27.
the recent rapid increases in population.
4.32
The function of the Statistics Section is to collect, analyse
and interpret statistical data and develop and organise statistical systems
for use in the formulation of major educational programmes and policy
decisions.
The work is service-oriented, and although strictly speaking
the section provides a common service to the department it is heavily
involved in providing planning data for the Planning Section.
Divisional planning
4.33
Divisional planning systems vary according to the nature of
Some functions cannot be viewed in
the main divisional functions.
isolation (for example, the annual student intake to the colleges of
education must be geared to the probable employment situation in schools
two or three years later) and in such cases divisional planning tasks
are streamed into the central departmental planning process at an early
stage. For purely internal divisional planning matters, however (such
as the deployment of existing special education teachers), decisions are
taken internally as far as possible, each division adopting whatever
systems of planning happen to suit the characteristics of its work: this
results in a wide variety of formal, informal and, where appropriate, ad hoc
small-scale planning arrangements under the general control of Assistant
Directors.
Educational research
4.34
It has not been until recent years that the Education
Department has been able to undertake systematic research projects to
assist in forward planning: this became possible in the mid-1970s with
the reorganisation of the Advisory Inspectorate's Research, Testing and
Guidance Section (whose limited resources had necessarily been concentrated
in the main on testing). This Section is now known as the Educational
Research Establishment (ERE), its main functions being to carry out
general educational research and to monitor standards at all levels of