Mid term Evaluation of the Education Programme of Save the Children Norway in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Background:

SCN has been working in the field of education in the Lao PDR for the last ten years. During 2006-2009, the education programme has two general objectives relating to access and quality; and three objectives aimed at helping to broaden the understanding of cross-cutting issues on HIV/AIDS, non-violence and child participation. In order to achieve the above objectives, SCN supports three projects to the Ministry of Education (MoE) such as Inclusive Education Project (IE) in all 17 provinces, Quality Education Project (QEP) in Luang Prabang, Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khuang and Vientiane Provinces, and Early Learning in Primary School (ELPS) in Luang Prabang Province.

Purpose/objective:

The overall objective of the mid term evaluation is to:

• Assess the impact of the IE , QEP and ELPS projects to-date, with reference to the objectives and activities outlined in the latest project proposals, identifying positive and negative outcomes and project strengths and weaknesses;

• Assess the degree to which the three projects support each other, identify the value added from the linkages between them and assess whether this contributes towards cost-effective implementation and how the potential for coordination and synergy can be further developed;

• Identify existing and future challenges that may impact adversely on the successful implementation of the projects;

• Assess separately specific aspects of the individual projects.

Methodology:

The evaluation was conducted by two external consultants and two officers from the MoE. The team visited 17 selected schools as well as a Teacher Education Institute (TEI) in Vientiane, Champasak, Bolikhamsay, Luang Prabang and Vientiane capital. The approach to the final evaluation included the gathering and analysis of evidence from project documentation and data produced by the MoE, as well as interviews, and discussion with key stakeholders, who included MoE officials at central, provincial and district level, representatives of major donors, village dignitaries, members of pupil parents’ associations, teachers and children. Finally, a consultation workshop was held with some 60 government officials at Thalat, Vientiane Province.

Key findings:

1. The programme has achieved a low cost model of educational development which can support the improvement to access and quality in a low resource environment, a model important to the achievement of Government of Lao’s Education for All plans.

2. The three projects had made considerable impact on a number of children in Lao PDR and the model of implementation gives strong ownership to the MoE.

3. The role of the head teacher is a pivotal to the change process and training for head teachers should be intensified to support the head teacher’s role as in-service provider.

4. Parents and community members show enthusiasm for the developments in their schools, but still tend to see themselves as material providers rather active partners in their children’s education.

5. Planning and monitoring in all three projects needs to be strengthened, and management structure of the three projects is over complicated, causing stress to management systems of SCNL and the Government of Lao (GOL) education system.

Recommendations:

1. Lessons learned should be disseminated through the education system in Lao PDR and internationally.

2. A stronger role, emphasising the parent as the first educator of the child, will make parents and community groups more confident to contributing to children’s learning and to play a role in the monitoring of classroom effectiveness.

3. SCNL should begin a process of project review, to identify a clear strategic focus, finding ways to maximise impact and achieve a more technically focused and coherent programme. SCNL can build on the considerable respect it has built up with the MoE and the donor community in Lao PDR. A clearer strategic focus for the development of SCNL education activities could involve a move from a project approach to a programme approach – with a strong link to advocacy for policy development and facilitation of development of evidence-based policy in the Lao education sector. Such a move would require:

• review of existing planning and planning strategies, possibly with the help of a skilled external planner,

• development of monitoring strategies. More hard evidence of impact is needed to support project review and development. SCNL should review the current monitoring scheme and design a realistic programme wide monitoring plan which may depend on case studies and sampling.

• with key stakeholders, review all training programmes with a view to gaining greater strategic oversight and to identify and respond to synergies, overlaps and holes.

Comments from the organization, if any

1. The recommendations are useful references for improving the future program. Some have already been included into 2008 plan, for instance improvement of monitoring system across three projects, resource person development in the school clusters in QEP, preparing the exit strategy document for IE.

2. Long term recommendations will also be discussed and taken into account for the next strategy period. This will especially apply to developing a more focused programme with greater integration between the various ini