Support to education (School construction and provide equipment) Partner Project final Evaluation

1. Project Description and Background to Evaluation:
Support to education (School construction and provide equipment) Partner Project final Evaluation A school construction and teaching quality enhancment project aimed at the three communities of Yékétéré, Niokona (Rural Commune of Guiwoyo) and Konga (commune of Kolokani). With goals to improve the hygienic situation in the villages and increase the schooling rate for transferred speed school students. Financed by Raddison Blue.

2. Purpose/objective:
To examine the standards and quality of the goods and the services produced by the project.

3. Methodology:
All the stakeholders of the project were involved in the process of the evaluation. Project document analysis at SFWA.  A participative method of evaluation incliuding focus groups. Field visit.

4. Key findings:
a) Strengths:
• Better condition of hygiene for the children, because of the toilets in conformity with the standards of hygiene and cleansing;
• The realization of the infrastructures motivated more the villagers around the question of education. Consequently, the communities were easily mobilised for the construction of the residences for teachers.
• The amount of pupils was raised from 274 Niokona village to 400 pupils
• The National Agency for the Investment of Local Authorities financed the construction of the 2nd cycle in the village due to the project.
• The quality of the teaching of remaining trained teachers is improved.
b) Weaknesses:
• An anticipated degradation of the infrastructures:  They present signs of degradation (cracks in the walls and destruction of the cement cover of the grounds).
• Lack of engagement of the village population in the maintaniance of the buildings
• The Municipality of  Kolokani did not participate in the implementation of the project. They argued that the realization of such infrastructures is part of their responsibility and consequently they should manage the funds
• High turnover of teachiers: 50% of the teachers trained in the framework of the project has already left the project area

5. Recommendations:
• The maintenance of the realized infrastructures: The villagers must be engaged to maintain them in good condition for several years;
• The overcrowding in classrooms which can result in the passion that the community will have for education, because of the good learning conditions created by the project: Nowadays, one can already observe this situation and predict the future with the case of Nonkona villages. It’s better to anticipate some measurements; 
• Relect on and establish practices on how to lower teacher turover
• The involvement of all the benefiting Municipalities in the implementation of the project: The realization of such an infrastructure must be taken into in the sectorial development plan of the benefiting Municipalities.

6. Comments from the organisation, if any: (this section to be filled by the staff responsible in SF’s Regional Office)