In this paper, I analyze the governing education policy by numbers in an era of
neo-liberalism. The numerical utilization produced through quantification has been expanding
since the 1990’s. Various numerical indicators are used regularly in the education
policy-making and execution process. Numbers are regarded as objective, rational and
transparent knowledge, and are used as a criterion of performance and accountability of
education policy. The ‘evaluation through measuring’ is emphasized by the openness,
accountability, efficiency, and non-ideological character of education policy. However, it is
possible to understand that numbers are significant technologies of neo-liberal governance
which makes the self-controlled control to an education outcome and the governing at
distance by standardized indicators. Numbers as a mode of neo-liberal governmentality have
two characteristics: ‘conduct of conduct’ and ‘government at a distance’. It is used as an
explanation for the social process of governing the education policy by numbers. Numbers
and quantification are operated by the disciplinary power and are used an effective means of
neo-liberal subjectification. Governing education policy by numbers have resulted in negative
consequences like a homogenization of education value, weakening of expert judgment and
expanding of global educational governance by the trans-national disciplinary power like the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.