South Australia public schools' EMS from 2018 designed to follow students' progress and streamline class admin
South Australia public schools' education management system (EMS), from 2018, was designed to follow students' progress. The online system aimed to improve recording enrolments, family information, movement between schools. For teachers, it would simplify attendance records, managing behavior, preparing reports, planning and communicating
The education management system (EMS) was introduced by the South Australian government education department in 2018 with benefits from capturing all the relevant information about a child's progress through the public schools and pre-schools system.
The online system aimed to create easier recording of enrolments, family information and movement between schools. For teachers, the system was meant to make it simpler to record attendance, managing behavior, preparing reports, planning and communicating. It included tools for creating timetables and scheduling, as well as making it easier to to track and report on student learning, homework and assignments. The system also was designed to help a school with its budgeting, invoicing and procuring equipment.
In 2024, the South Australian government auditor general Andrew Blaskett reported that thesystem, originally costed at $130 million and expected to be delivered to around 900 school sites by June 2023, had its budget blown out by $47 million to $169 million and would not be completed until 2026. At the time of reporting, the education department was preparing a request for further internal funding. While most of the core system was being delivered to sites, extra time had been needed to customise EMS to meet requirements not originally specified. Aside from the Covid-19 pandemic’s effect, the attorney general identified weaknesses in project governance among contributors to the project’s delays.
Responding to the attorney general’s report, state government education minister Blair was confident the EMS would “be transformative for our schools and preschools, replacing 30-year-old legacy systems which will enable paperless processing and seamless access to student data in real time such as non-attendance and wellbeing – that’s why I’m determined to make sure it is delivered.” Boyer said the project had been reset with greater oversight more realistic scoping. In 2024, the EMS had reached 433 school sites.