Monitioring and evaluation

Educational Monitoring

By Dr M Iqbal

Definition

“ Whenever any educational programs comes into operation there arise the need for some kind of mechanism by which the progress of implementation can be readily assessed. Such a mechanism is generally referred to as the monitoring mechanism. Within the education system, monitoring covers activities of inspection and supervision.’

What Is difference Between Monitoring and Evaluation?

The first major difference between the two is that monitoring is done against the identified activities of a project. Whereas evaluation focuses more on the objectives of a project.

The second difference is that monitoring is an on-going and constant activity whereas evaluation is periodic, to be done and completed within a specific time.

Contd.Thirdly, monitoring is generally considered

and practiced as an internal component of the project. But this does not that monitoring cannot be done externally. Whereas evaluation is both external and internal.

What is Project Monitoring?

The Monitoring and evaluation of project is a systematic procedure to collect and analyze information about the implementation of the project.

The monitoring of the project measures the effectiveness of the planning and management of the project periodically.

The purpose of monitoring is to provide timely information and give feed-back to the management on vital stage in project implementation.

The periodic feed back on the progress of the project helps project management to know the achievement of the project’s targets.

Contd.Pragmatic planning involves the realistic

assessment of financial resources and required inputs that can be expected on development activities each year and during the project.

In over all sense, there are five main aspect of Project Analysis:

Contd.(1) Technical security; (2) the financial analysis: (3) the economic analysis: (4) the social analysis; (5) the sensitivity analysis. These elements are briefly explained

below:

What is Financial Analysis?

The financial aspect of project preparation and analysis are concerned with the financial impact of the proposed project on each of its various participants.

What is Economic Analysis?

The economic aspect of project preparation and analysis deals with determining whether a project is likely to contribute significantly to the development of the total economy.

The techniques of economic analysis help to identify those projects that make the greatest contribution to national income.

What is Social Analysis?

For the purposes analyzing the project from social point of view.

Distributional weights are calculated and applied to the steam of cost and benefit calculated at efficiency prices (shadow prices).

The objectives underlying the social analysis are the distributional impact I.e. equity.

What Is Technical scrutiny?

What is Technical scrutiny?

The analysis for determining the technical viability,

including the choice of appropriate technology,

for the development project is made by the technical section(e.g. the location, supply of raw material,

process to be used, market demand, infrastructure,

supply of managerial, technical and other types of manpower ).

What is Sensitivity Analysis?

This analysis studies the impact that changes in the cost and benefits would have on the profitability or present value of the project .e.g. a 10% increase in construction coast might reduce the internal rate return from 15% to 9% for project A, but only from 15% to 12% for project. B.As such, at the time

Of appraisal of projects it is necessary that sensitivity analysis be carried out to see whether the project would be beneficial.

What is Benefit Cost-Rate(BCR)?

Both the benefit and cost streams and discount at a rate considered to be closer to opportunity cost of capital and the ratio between the present worth of benefits divided present worth of the coast is determined.

When the ratio is equal to one or above, the project is treated as viable.

What is Net Present Worth?

The most straightforward discounted cash flow measure of project worth is the Net Present Worth, often abbreviated as NPW.

The net present worth is calculated by subtracting present worth of cost from present worth of benefits discounted at opportunity cost of capital.

What is Internal Rate of Return(IRR)?

It is the discount rate, when just makes the NWP of the cash-flow equal to zero.

The discount rate is termed as the internal rate of return and is the weighted average earning power of the resources used in the project over life.

What is Opportunity Cost Of Capital?

All the three measures of project worth must be related to the opportunity cost of the capital.

For private enterprise, the opportunity cost of capital will be a weighted average of the borrowing rate for funds.

The opportunity cost of capital, is return on the last(e.g. marginal) investment,

which could made where all the available capital is fully invested in the most remunerative alternative manner.

What is Program Evaluation and Review Technique/Critical Path Method?

Periodic monitoring is linked to the PERT/CPM analysis at the same time of plan formulation and its execution.

For chalking out the implementation phase of a project.

Network technique is quite useful and helps the project managers to minimize the chances of schedule slippages, cost over return contractual difficulties.

Critical path method is a useful technique for project implementation.

Contd.It is a technique concerned with finding

the minimum cost of carrying out task which consist of a number of activities, at least some of which have to be carried out consecutively.

The critical Path is thus, the path with the longest completion time. It is critical in the sense that its length determines the time required by the whole task.

What is Monitoring Route?

It is necessary to ensure linkage between targets and resources.

The targets are physically achievable within the resources allocated on realistic basis.

The basic purpose of monitoring is to identify the areas requiring corrective action in order to ensure successful implementation as per the schedules.

The monitoring functions involves

Contd.Watching actual performance, comparing it

with the targets and identifying shortfalls;Raising warnings signals in advance

observing the actual physical progress of critical milestones as per the network in terms of the scheduled dates as well as the latest dates of completion and informing the decision makers;

Identifying the problems areas, analyzing the problems, suggesting action areas.

What is Monitoring Parameters and Mechanism?

Monitoring is required in terms of the following parameters .e.g. project cost estimates (originally approved,

latest approve/ revised and anticipated), commissioning dates (originally envisaged, latest approved/ revised and anticipated).

Monitoring of these parameters gives an idea of the cost and time overruns in respect of the projects under review.

This type of monitoring may be undertaken for all projects, big and small at the federal and provincial.

Contd. The intensive monitoring requires to keep

a close watch on the project implementation schedule as per PERT chart. It is critical to identify slippages.

The reason for the delay can be diagnosed to fix up accountability.

Further updating of the PERT networks can also become necessary in many cases, where the annual plan allocations fall short of the proposed outlays, on which the original PERT charts are based.

What is Project Monitoring Through Computers?

With advances in computers and information technology, effective monitoring of the major on-going projects; a monitoring system can be designed.

It can be aimed at timely identification of the warning signals for preventing time and cost over runs and avoiding slippages in the course of implementation of major projects.

What is Existing Government System?

Contd.The main features of the earlier monitoring

set-up comprised the submission of Report s to the Monitoring Cells in various ministries quarterly review meetings,

reports on different formats, data banks , for monitoring the progress of

the public sector projects. In the planning commission, a review of

progress was at the time of annual Plan discussions, and publication of the Quarterly Status Report.

The Projects Wing May also undertake?

To facilitate and coordinate implementation of projects-not merely evaluation or monitoring:

To resolve inter-ministerial knots and de-bottlenecking

To assist ministries departments in systems development for preparation of Action Plan and Control Report on targets.

To achieve these perception, three systems may be developed;

Contd.Project monitoring system to deal with

monitoring the implementation of all federal projects.

Implementation of program and preparation of action plans.

Infrastructure monitoring system for monitoring the performance of infrastructure.

What is Implementation and Monitoring?

The need for improvement of project formulation, sanction, implementation and monitoring in education planning is well emphasized. For proper project implementation, emphasis has to be laid on correct:

ProjectionPre-planning for implementationDecision-makingFundingProject organizationContractsCoordinationUse of consultants

Contd.During the implementation stage of the

project, there is need for continuous monitoring to ensure project implementation as per time and cost schedules.

It is necessary to identify the scope for monitoring for plan implementation. Broadly speaking, monitoring would cover the following areas:

Contd.Physical progress of the implementation of

the projectQuantitative and qualitative progress of

implementation of programsProductivity and profitability performance for

established public sector, for which key indicators specific to the units concerned may be identified.

In all these areas, it will be necessary to spell out the responsibilities of the concerned ministries and the planning commission.

What is Program Monitoring System (Higher Management)?

Input Monthly reports received from the different ministries/departments for different performance indices.

Processing Analysis of the data in consultation with ministries/departments wherever necessary.

Output Monthly Quarterly Capsule report for Prime Minister. Performance Report with executive summary for Deputy Chairman, planning Commission

Follow-up Resolution of specific inter-sectorial problems affecting the performance of different sectors by regular contacts or by holding meetings at different levels.

What is Project Monitoring System (Middle Management)?

Inputs

Monthly flash reports, action reportsMonthly production reportsQuarterly progress report Annual plan proposalAnnual undated PERT networks

Processing

Computer data entry Print-outsQuarterly review meetingsProject visitsAnalysis

Output

Monthly flash reportMonthly input problems listing Quarterly status reportQuick department-wise notesIn-depth analysis notes—selected projects

Follow-up

Action by ministriesInter-ministerial meetingsSpecial analysis notes for committee of

secretaries  

Good Luck