Indicators and tools for measuring performance in the public education system : bibliometric perspectives on BSC, KPI, SPM, M&E, and EPSA

This study examines how performance measurement frameworks, including the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Strategic Performance Management (SPM), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and the European Public Sector Award (EPSA), have been discussed and applied in public education. The research problem addressed is the challenge of understanding the impact and integration of these frameworks in educational management. To address this problem, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 2626 academic publications from 2020 to 2025 (WOS), mapping the literature quantitatively and qualitatively. Three major themes emerged from a network of keyword co-occurrences: (1) performance measurement frameworks and methods, (2) technical/engineering performance indicators, and (3) strategic management and organizational performance in education. The findings indicate that the successful implementation of performance measurements in education requires the selection of relevant and balanced indicators and the promotion of an organizational culture of continuous improvement. These insights highlight prevailing trends (such as the prominence of the BSC and the widespread use of KPIs) and provide lessons from international practice to guide decision-makers to improve education. Highlighting the link between the theoretical definition of indicators and their practical application provides policymakers and educational managers with an overview of research in the field of performance management in public education.