INTEGRATED FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROJECT (OPG TO WORLD EDUCATION INC) AN INTERNAL WEI EVALUATION

AN INTERNAL WFI EVALUATION 663-0190, FEBRUARY 1977 BY JOHN J. TETTIT, WORLD EDUCATION CONSULTANT SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE INTEGRATED FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROJECT (IFLE) THE PROGRAM HAS MATURED INTO A SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT EFFORT WITH MANY SUPPORTERS IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT. THE REASON FOR THE PROGRAM"S WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE IS THE APPARENT SUCCESS OF ITS INTEGRATED APPROACH AND THE MANY GRADUATES WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEY BEGAN TO PARTICIPATE IN IFLE CLASSES AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM HAS REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE WHO SAW THEMSELVES AS PASSED OVER; MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS BELIEVED THAT EDUCATION WAS FOR THE YOUNG. IT IS APPARENT TO THE EVALUATOR THAT THE APPROACH USED BY THE IFLE ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN DEVELOP SKILLS AND ATTITUDES THAT ENABLE THEM TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR OWN LIVES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORT OF THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT. THE EVALUATION CONTAINS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY AND PROVIDES DESCRIPTIVE MATERIALS ABOUT PROJECT MATERIALS, TEACHING METHODS, GROUP LEADERS, AND THE ON-GOING MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION SYSTEM. THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO HEALTH, NUTRITION, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, FAMILY GUIDANCE AND CIVICS IS THE BEST WAY TO FOSTER SELF-RELIANCE AMONG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE GREATER PART OF THE EVALUATION IS AN ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE STATISTICALLY AND QUALITATIVELY HOW THE CENTRAL CONCEPTS IN EACH OF THESE AREAS HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE RESULTS OF THE CLASSES CLEARLY INDICATE THAT ILLITERATE PARTICIPANTS LEARNED TO COPE WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE DILEMMAS. WHILE IFLE IS NOT A PANACEA FOR ETHIOPIA"S DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS, IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE IFLE COURSES ARE FAR BETTER PREPARED TO COPE; AND THE CHANCES OF THEIR NUMBERS BECOMING A PART OF ETHIOPIA"S STATISTICS ON POVERTY AND INFANT DEATH IS DEFINITELY LESS.