>> Contents of Newsletter #15

A Note on School Accountability
 
Ward Heneveld


If there could be a face-to-face meeting at a school at which they answered two questions, in detail, that would go a long way towards getting a connection between the presence of the stuff [donated materials] and its contribution to students' learning. The questions are:
  • What do you want the students to be able to do at the end of X (a course, Form IV, in a specific subject or in general)?
  • What is it that you need to have and do in the classroom to maximize the probability that students' will reach these objectives?
I've seen step-wise versions of processes that answer these questions work all over Africa, including with rural primary school teachers and villagers speaking only Wolof or Malagasy. Most recently, we used a detailed process to help school heads and local supervisors conduct studies of what contributes to good primary school leaving exam results in four countries. I think I sent material on this already, but I can send again if anyone is interested.

I think we are all agreed that sending forms to be filled won't elicit responses. Producing something in writing through a visit is possible; and what's produced could become the terms of an agreement that gives them the stuff they want.

An afterthought: Use an existing "wishlist" from a school to ask them what the answer to the first question on student outcomes will be (and by when), if they get everything on the list. There answer could become the point for monitoring.
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