Fauzia Irfieh / Postgraduate Student Class Reg. III-D UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
Introduction
The development of information and communication technology (ICT) in the last two decades has had a major impact on various aspects of life, including the world of education. The current phenomenon shows that schools and madrasahs are required to be able to manage data and information quickly, accurately, and integrated. The assumption is that the digitalisation of education demands the presence of the Education Management Information System (SIMDIK) as the main tool to support the planning, management, supervision, and evaluation of education programs.
However, behind this progress there is still a real gap. There is a GAP/problem in that many educational institutions face problems such as unsynchronised data between sections, slow reporting processes, weak coordination, and limited infrastructure that leads to reduced accountability. This condition creates a gap between the ideal education management needs and the reality of SIMDIK implementation in the field.
Based on these phenomena and problems, this paper aims to describe the characteristics, components, structure and approach of the Education Management Information System. With this explanation, it is hoped that SIMDIK can be understood as a strategic instrument to improve education quality, strengthen accountability and prepare educational institutions to face the challenges of the digital era.
Characteristics & Role of SIM
A Management Information System (MIS) is a system designed to provide accurate, relevant and timely information for decision-making within an organisation. In the context of education, SIM is an important tool that helps schools or madrasahs to run more effective management processes.
The main characteristics of SIM include:
- It works on structured tasks, with clear procedures and pre-defined rules.
- Improving organisational efficiency, i.e. being able to reduce operational costs through the use of information technology.
- Provide useful reports for managers, so as to assist decision-making even though the final decision is still determined by humans.
- Acts as a management warning system, signalling early opportunities and threats.
The role of SIM in organisations includes automating routine tasks, linking planning with control, coordinating various subsystems, and integrating information resources to make managerial processes more purposeful. With these characteristics and roles, SIM is able to support schools in creating a more transparent, accountable and data-driven learning process.