The article examines the problems which arise in the planning and constructing of educational indicator systems in the light of literature concerning social indicators and the experience obtained so far in the project of educational indicators at the Institute for Lducatlonal Research, at the University of Jyvaskyla. The problems have been divided into those dealing with frames of reference, methodology, practical construction of indicators, and political implications. After discussing some general views on frames of reference, a preliminary frame of reference is presented as an attempt to approach the problem. After this, methodmal and practical problems are analyzed in the light of the framework. Finally, some problems connected with the political aspects of indicators are discussed from a general viewpoint.