Process evualuation of the secondary schools intervention programme

Abstract

Evaluation of intervention programmes is essential to adduce evidential information on their implementation, delivery and effectiveness. Evaluation of programmes is conducted for various reasons: to identify provision of programme services and ways to improve the programme, to judge programme merit and to generate knowledge about programme functioning. Process evaluation explains the operation of the programme, service delivery and the utilisation of resources with a view to continuous improvement. However, process evaluation has been neglected despite the significant role it plays in the continuum of evaluation strategies. In South Africa, the poor performance of Grade 12 learners has led to the introduction of the Secondary School Intervention Programme (SSIP) to reduce the number of failures in the matriculation examination and improve the results, particularly in underperforming secondary schools. This study evaluated the delivery of the SSIP in the Tshwane West district through process evaluation using qualitative research methods. As part of the evaluation, relevant records and SSIP documents, which yielded information on the participating schools, learner attendance, the tutors and their qualifications were examined. During the course of the fieldwork, 10 lesson presentations were observed and 10 tutors were interviewed immediately thereafter. Ten learners, the Programme Coordinator and 3 site managers volunteered for interviews about the programme. Findings indicated the necessity of tutor training in the use of the programme materials and frequent assessment of learners to determine improvements in learner performance. The SSIP should focus not only on improving matriculation results but also on the education and professional development of educators. To enhance effective programme delivery, innovative and modern teaching resources, such as computers to access the internet and other technologies, should be introduced. Based on the findings, it was recommended that SSIP should not be confined to underperforming schools but should be extended to other schools as well. Learner feedback on strengths and weaknesses in the programme and how the latter can be remedied will contribute to programme improvement. Finally, this study reflects the need to adopt process evaluation as a significant component of evaluation and advocates further research conducted on other areas of evaluation.