Introduction

In an era of increasing accountability and a global commitment to achieving equitable and quality education, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for Education Programs has become an indispensable discipline for ensuring that educational initiatives achieve their intended impact and deliver demonstrable value. M&E provides the critical framework for tracking progress, identifying challenges, and assessing the effectiveness of interventions, from large-scale curriculum reforms to localized literacy programs. It moves beyond simply reporting activities to rigorously examining whether programs are reaching their target audiences, achieving their objectives, and contributing to desired educational outcomes. Without robust M&E systems, education programs risk misallocating resources, repeating ineffective strategies, and failing to provide the evidence needed to secure continued support and justify investments. This essential training course focuses on equipping educational professionals with the expertise to master Monitoring and Evaluation for Education Programs.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to empower program managers, M&E officers, data analysts, school administrators, policymakers, and project staff working in education with the theoretical understanding and practical tools necessary to design, implement, and utilize effective monitoring and evaluation systems for education programs. Participants will gain a deep understanding of M&E frameworks, explore various data collection methods, learn about qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques, and acquire skills in reporting findings for evidence-based decision-making. The course will delve into topics such as logic models, indicator development, baseline and endline surveys, formative and summative evaluations, impact assessment, ethical considerations in M&E, and leveraging technology for data management. By mastering the principles and methodologies of Monitoring and Evaluation for Education Programs, participants will be prepared to enhance program effectiveness, demonstrate accountability, and contribute significantly to improving educational outcomes in their respective contexts.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Education Program Managers and Coordinators
• Monitoring and Evaluation Officers in Education Sector
• Project Managers in NGOs and CSOs working on education
• School Administrators and Leaders involved in program implementation
• Data Analysts and Researchers in Education
• Ministry of Education Officials (Planning, M&E Departments)
• Donors and Funding Agency Representatives (Education Portfolio)
• Curriculum Developers and Assessment Specialists
• Consultants in Education and Development
• Community Educators and Trainers

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts and principles of Monitoring and Evaluation in education.
• Learn to develop robust M&E frameworks, including logic models and theories of change.
• Acquire skills in designing relevant indicators and selecting appropriate data collection methods.
• Comprehend techniques for analyzing both quantitative and qualitative educational data.
• Explore strategies for reporting M&E findings effectively for various stakeholders.
• Understand the importance of data quality, ethics, and privacy in education M&E.
• Gain insights into evaluating program effectiveness and assessing impact.
• Develop a framework for integrating M&E into the program lifecycle for continuous improvement.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation in Education

• Defining M&E: monitoring vs. evaluation.
• The purpose and benefits of M&E for education programs.
• The role of M&E in accountability, learning, and decision-making.
• Key M&E terms: inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, impact.
• Challenges and opportunities in M&E for education programs.

Module 2: M&E Frameworks and Theories of Change

• Developing a Logic Model for education programs.
• Understanding the Theory of Change: pathways from activities to long-term impact.
• Identifying assumptions and external factors.
• Practical exercises in constructing logic models and theories of change.
• Linking program design directly to M&E planning.

Module 3: Indicator Development and Data Collection Methods

• Characteristics of good indicators (SMART).
• Developing output, outcome, and impact indicators for education programs.
• Types of data: quantitative and qualitative.
• Data collection methods: surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, observations, document review.
• Designing data collection tools: questionnaires, interview guides.

Module 4: Data Management and Quality Assurance

• Planning for data management: data entry, storage, security.
• Ensuring data quality: accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness.
• Data validation techniques and error checking.
• Ethical considerations in data collection and management (consent, privacy, confidentiality).
• Introduction to simple data management software (e.g., spreadsheets, basic databases).

Module 5: Data Analysis for Education Programs

• Basic quantitative data analysis: descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, percentages).
• Introduction to statistical analysis software (e.g., Excel for basic functions).
• Qualitative data analysis techniques: thematic analysis, content analysis.
• Interpreting data to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies.
• Disaggregating data to identify inequities and subgroup performance.

Module 6: Reporting M&E Findings and Utilization

• Principles of effective M&E reporting: clarity, conciseness, relevance, actionable.
• Tailoring reports to different audiences (donors, policymakers, school staff, community).
• Data visualization techniques for communicating findings.
• Presenting recommendations based on M&E evidence.
• Strategies for promoting the utilization of M&E findings for program improvement.

Module 7: Types of Evaluation and Impact Assessment

• Formative vs. Summative Evaluation.
• Process Evaluation: assessing implementation fidelity and efficiency.
• Outcome Evaluation: measuring changes in outcomes.
• Introduction to Impact Evaluation: assessing causality (experimental vs. quasi-experimental designs).
• Cost-effectiveness analysis for education programs.

Module 8: Integrating M&E into the Program Lifecycle

• M&E planning at program inception.
• Developing an M&E work plan and budget.
• The role of M&E in adaptive management and continuous learning.
• Building M&E capacity within education teams.
• Future trends in education M&E: big data, real-time monitoring, technology-enabled M&E.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training