A Data Quest is a platform where participants within groups of 5 collaborate to explore data. The groups comprise of graphic designers, journalists, public relations students, programmers, software developers, economists, accountants, CSO leaders, students representative councils, digital storytellers or bloggers, political science students and all other people interested in data, to engage on National and Provincial budget data. Great Prizes up for grabs to the winning group on the day.
The challenge is designed to get a group thinking about what they would like to explore. Challenge 1, 2 and 3 are specific, whereas the open challenge is a bit broader in that you may really expand your ideas.
Find how spending on either Education, Health, Human Settlements or Public Works in the Free State changed over the last 4 years? Based on the Department you selected, determine what programmes have received more priority and what has received less? Have they over- or underspent on their budgets? Why?
Find how spending on either Health, Energy, Human Settlements or Public Enterprises at a National Department level has changed over the last 4 years? Based on the Department you selected, determine what programmes have received more priority and what has received less? Have they over- or underspent on their budgets? Why?
Do a comparison between a Free State Department and its counterpart in another Province. What are the key similarities, differences? What conclusions can you derive from your findings?
What is an important thing we can learn from the budget and spending data for the Free State over the last four years? Do the current spending plans for the next three years address any issues you have found?
