EVALUATION OF THE TRAINING CENTER OF THE SERVICIO NATIONAL DE DESARROLLO DE LA COMUNIDAD (ASSESSMENT OF THE SNDC TRAINING COMPONENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS)

SNDC HAS ESTABLISHED 5 REGIONAL TRAINING CENTERS (AT PILLAPI, ZUDANEZ, NUCCHU, PARACAYA & MUYURINA) FOR RURAL CAMPESINO COMMUNITY LEADERS. EVAL TEAM VISITED THE NATL OFFICE & EACH OF THE REGIONAL OFFICES. OVERALL THE PROG PERFORMED IMPRESSIVELY DESPITE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES. THE NATL-LEVEL STAFF WAS VERY SMALL & OVER-WORKED. THERE APPEARED TO BE A MIMIMUM OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TRNG DIV AND OTHER DEPTS OF SNDC -- PARTICULARLY ITS DEPT OF COMMUNITY PROJS. THE NATL STAFF DISREGARDED OTHER RELATED EDUC PROGS WITH WHICH IT COULD LINK-UP TO THE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH. COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS WITH THE REGIONAL CENTERS RESULTED FROM THE AUTOCRATIC BACKGROUND OF ITS STAFF & THEIR INABILITY TO SEE THE NECESSITY OF EXPLAINING WHY IT DID OR DID NOT DO CERTAIN THINGS. THE FACILITIES OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS WERE IN GENERAL INAPPROPRIATE AS TRNG CENTERS. THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS WERE DEPRESSING AND IN A GENERAL STATE OF DISREPAIR. THE STAFFS WORKED UNDER TREMENDOUS CONSTRAINTS WITH LOW SALARIES,MINIMAL EQUIPMENT & ISOLATION. MORALE WAS LOW AND THE STAFF TURN-OVER RATE WAS HIGH. THE EDUC BACKGROUND OF THE INSTRUCTORS PREDOMINANTLY CONSISTED OF A FEW YRS OF COLLEGE-LEVEL AGRICULTURE. THE CURRICULAE HAD REMAINED RELATIVELY UNCHANGED FOR MANY YRS. REPORT RECOMMENDS INCREASED STAFF WITH WIDER EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS FOR BOTH THE NATL OFFICE & THE REGIONAL CENTERS. USAID SHOULD ASSIGN A FULL-TIME ADVISOR WITH EXPERTISE IN NON-FORMAL EDUC,TEACHING MATERIALS & TRNG METHODS. EVALUATORS DETERMINED THAT SNDC SHOULD UPGRADE THE SALARIES FOR REGIONAL TRNG STAFFS. COURSE COSTS FOR PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE INCREASED. RECOMMENDS THAT CURRICULAE INCLUDE MORE COOPERATIVE TRNG INCLUDING BUDGETING,BOOKEEPING AND MANAGEMENT. ALSO RECOMMENDS MORE EMPHASIS UPON HANDICRAFTS & TRNG FOR SEMI-SKILLED WORKERS--SMALL MOTORS,MECHANICS & CARPENTRY.