Evaluation

PROGRAMME PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION 2(1+1)
Lesson 22 : Importance of Monitoring and Evaluation

Evaluation

The primary purpose of evaluation in any extension programme is to ensure the effectiveness of extension workers and further how the efficiency can be improved. The importance of evaluation is for the following purposes:

  1. Programme Improvement: Any educational process which is evaluated, gives direction to continuous improvement in the programme process. Evaluations can help to improve the ongoing programmes. Information provided from evaluations conducted during programme implementation are used one to modify different stages of a programme.

  2. Programme Accomplishments: The progress of any activity and finally the results achieved during the end of the programme are assessed through evaluation. It helps to determine how far an activity has progressed and how much further it should be carried to achieve the objectives. The strengths, weaknesses as well as objectives of a programme are also determined through evaluation.

  3. Public Relations: Evaluation provides a report to the public. Assessment of programmes at the end via evaluation provides true information about the success and failure of the programme, which can be reported to the public, parliament and legislative bodies. The individuals, local leaders, professional groups, institutions and organizations in the community can be informed about the accomplishments of the programme through evaluation.

  4. Professional Growth: Evaluation gives an index of the one’s role as a professional worker. It helps to improve the professional attitudes and knowledge of extension workers and clarifies the shortcomings. Also feedback information from evaluations conducted can help to improve the morale of the extension staff. It helps to determine the capability of the local leaders in absence of extension workers.

  5. Professional Security: Evaluation results give us information that leads to confidence, satisfaction and sense of achievements in oneself.

  6. Effective Workmanship: Evaluation provides opportunity for different extension personnel to work together efficiently. It improves one’s skill in working and coordinating with much people.

  7. Methods of Extension Teaching: Evaluation keeps a check on extension teaching methods used. It helps us to know whether the extension teaching methods are being used effectively or not and which methods are most effective in what situation. The teaching methods used may be meetings, written materials, radio, demonstrations and others. Also the other devices or equipments used in the programme were in successful and which were in effective and needs to be modified to suit the changing needs of community.

  8. Programme Planning: Evaluation gives a basis for judging the programme i.e. to judge the effectiveness of programme planning procedure, modifications required in programme planning procedures and role and responsibilities of individuals in planning. This also gives a guidance and direction for future programme planning.

  • Effectiveness of Extension Organization
    Evaluation helps to determine the efficiency of organizational, administrative and supervisory roles performed. This helps to determine how effectively the administrators, organizers, specialists and supervisors involved in programme implementation can work systematically and efficiently. Evaluation helps to know –
    1. how many of the people have reached the objectives set
    2. how many are going to reach them
    3. reasons for not achieving the objectives set

  • Information of Clientele
    Evaluation provides information about the people with whom we work like their needs, wants and interests.

    1. Individual differences within groups and between groups.
    2. Customs, values and taboos.
    3. Identification of the organizations most effective in the extension programme.
    4. Success of leadership in particular areas and identification of areas where more leadership is required.
    5. Segments and percent of the population reached by the extension staff.
    6. Identifying different extension approaches for different population segments.

    Decision making:
    Evaluation helps to make judgments or draw conclusions that are of significance in decision making. Decisions may be regarding-need of a new valuable programme, continuation or reduction of the ongoing programme or re-emphasis of certain aspects of a programme.

    Satisfaction:
    Evaluation provides satisfaction to planners, leaders and clientele through an understanding and appreciation of what is accomplished.

  • Impact
    1. Evaluation helps to assess the short term and long term impact of the extension programmes in social and economic terms.
    2. Helps in identifying areas of success or failure.
    3. Compares value of achievements of the programme with costs.
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Last modified: Friday, 13 January 2012, 6:28 AM