RURAL EDUCATION

Evaluation covers the period 8/78-1/81 and summarizes an attached special evaluation (PD-AAI-307-A1) prepared by a social anthropologist with USAID help. Illness forced USAID"s curriculum revision expert to leave the project. This delayed some activities and USAID"s technical advisor had to assume extra duties. Also, Ministry of Education (MOE) bureaucratic procedures delayed the commitment of project funds by 14 months. Implementation planning by the technical assistance (TA) team (which is of mixed quality) has been very general and the team has had difficulty in carrying out its assigned training function. An integrated system for curriculum and material design, teacher training, supervision, and evaluation is being developed. Progress in achieving the first two items has been satisfactory (it is too early to judge success regarding the last two items). A preliminary draft of programs for grades 1-3 was prepared by a diversified MOE team. Progress was also made in identifying qualified individuals to prepare the materials for grades 1-3. The evaluation component is behind schedule because of a lack of understanding of its relevance and limited MOE input. The training of operating personnel has been slow due to constraints within the MOE such as high turnover within the teacher training group and personnel transfers. It is still too early to gauge progress in establishing a materials production center. MOE decided to change the center"s location, but has not yet determined a new locale. There has been no progress regarding the information system. Action decisions -- which regard the key lessons learned from the project -- include revising the implementation and financial plans to take into account project delays; preparing a detailed plan for the information/evaluation component; and redefining the role of the TA team and arranging for increased MOE daily input regarding key project decisions.