MAINSTREAMING MONITORING AND EVALUATION IN EDUCATION

Can education be effectively managed without an

M & E system in place?

KEY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

How is our education system doing?Are we providing the right kind of education for our children? (relevancy)Who is benefiting from the education we provide? (EFA, No child left behind)Who are we targeting in our education? (Any marginalized group)Do we have the resources we need (physical and human)?

What skills do children acquire when they leave school? (Life Skills)How are teachers/principals doing? (effectiveness)What are the crucial areas we need to focus on? (gaps, priority)What assistance do we need and in what area? Which part of the system is not working well?Etc

KEY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

DO WE HAVE ANSWERS?

Yes, I know all the answers!!!! Well, I know the answers to some but not allNo, I do not know the answers but I know our system and what it needsNo I do not know the answers and I need guidance and assistanceBut on what basis do we decide?Do we have the information to enable us, as managers, to provide answers?

MONITORING AND EVALUATION, WHAT IS IT?

A process and a tool that provides the information you need to answer each area of concern about the systemA system used to determine, using reliable and valid evidence, the extent to which set goals have been achievedMust be demand-driven and based on information needed by countryNecessary process that helps managers to manage, plan and make sound policy decisions

Top-down approach to M&E results in narrow perception of process and lack of commitment at country level resulting in questions about sustainabilityCountry driven engagement in M&E indicates commitment towards improving delivery of services and ownership of processEngagement in M&E and collecting information does not guarantee improve performance

MONITORING AND EVALUATION, WHAT IS IT?

Value of M&E comes when information is used to improve performanceM & E system used to measure the quantity, quality and targeting of the services provided (inputs and processes) as well as the output, and the outcomes and impacts of such outputs Information collected through M&E process provides opportunity to understand causes of both negative and positive performancesM&E could be carried out at project, program or sector level

MONITORING AND EVALUATION, WHAT IS IT?

Ownership of M&E is important in ensuring commitment rather than simply satisfying external requirement. Need a system in place to ensure collection of relevant and appropriate informationNo M & E in place makes it difficult to manage and achieve goalsM & E system does not guarantee improvement but makes it easier to improve.

IMPLEMENTING MONITORING AND EVALUATION

INSTITUTIONALIZING MONITORING & EVALUATION

M & E not only put in place to monitor progress for donor funded projects, instead it should be part of normal process of trying to improve overall performance Need to ensure that M & E system in place is sustainable, and information collected is used in all aspects of operation; policy formulation/revision, planning, transparency and accountability, management including resource allocation

Successful institutionalization of M & E depends on how countries make use of the information collected (monitoring)Use of information depends on ability to analyze and evaluate information to identify key messages relating to performance (evaluation) and on need for informationCurrent focus on M&E on information collection (monitoring) with little effort on identifying key messages (evaluation) information convey

INSTITUTIONALIZING MONITORING & EVALUATION

Tool enable identification and collection of information relating directly to extent to which goals are being addressed (performance) Identifying appropriate indicators crucial in ensuring valid information is collectedIndicators directly linked to objectives to be monitoredCover all dimensions of the goal being monitored

IDENTIFYING RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE INDICATORS

IDENTIFYING RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE INDICATORS

Mindful of number of indicators as each indicator has cost implicationInformation system in place in order to make indicators availableIndicators make it possible to mobilize available informationIndicators facilitate identification of problems and measures extent, also alerts decision makers of any possible problem areas so solutions can be identifiedManaging education without M&E/Indicators is like sailing a ship without a compass

SUSTAINABILITY OF M&E SYSTEMS

Depend on the demand for information and what information is used for; making informed decisionsCommitment from all key stakeholders towards evidence-based decisions and need for information for policy formulation, planning, resource allocation, etc.Capacity in areas of information collection, technology, analysis, evaluation Ownership by ministry of the process and not an imposed process

A key step in M&E development is setting up the goals ministry wants to pursueComplexity of M&E systems depends on the complexity of the goals and number of dimensions covered by each goal.Added to the complexity are the number of stakeholders involved in each goal and their need for information.

DEVELOPING COUNTRY-DRIVEN M&E SYSTEMS

DEVELOPING COUNTRY-DRIVEN M&E SYSTEMS

Clear Goals with clear indication of what is/are to be achievedRelevant indicators identified for each goal at appropriate levels (local, provincial, national, regional, etc.)Establish system to monitor and evaluate progress made in each goalKey stakeholders involved in addressing each goal Information each stakeholder needs to be collected in relation to each indicator

How information is used to improve performanceHow the monitoring is to be carried out?Who will collect the data to monitor progress in each goal?Who decides on indicators that will provide necessary information?How frequent should information be collected?

KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING M&E SYSTEMS

KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING M&E SYSTEMS

Who will be in charge of the data and its analysis? What are the timelines for reporting the data? Is there a strategy to deal with messages conveyed by information?Do countries have the capacity to sustain or mainstream M & E as part of normal process

WHY IMPORTANT TO MONITOR EDUCATION PERFORMANCE?

Clarifies objectives and links activities and their resources to objectivesTranslates objectives into performance indicators and sets targetsCompares actual results with targets Allows for reporting of progress to decision makers and alerts them to problemsProvides information as basis for decision making

Helps implementation and re-designing programs and resource allocations to improve program/sector’s chances of achieving targetEncourages comparison among programs and supports efficient and effective use of resourcesPromotes transparency and accountability in implementation and use of resourcesEncourages good practice in results-based management

WHY IMPORTANT TO EVALUATE PERFORMANCE

AN EXAMPLE

Goal – “Provide quality primary education for all by 2020”Key Issues - Access and qualityKey ACCESS Considerations Key QUALITY Considerations

MAINSTREAMING MONITORING & EVALUATION IN EDUCATION

Realizing the need for information at all levels of decision makingMaking the commitment to set up the system for M&EEnsuring sustainability of M & E system through capacity building, allocating necessary resourcesMove towards results-based management