A review of the monitoring and evaluation system to monitor the implementation of early childhood development within Gauteng Department of Health

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research study was prompted by problems observed with the Early ChildhoodDevelopment (ECD) programme in the Gauteng Department of Health viz; absenceof a clear ECD monitoring and reporting system; absence of reporting on ECDprogramme performance outcomes; inequitable funding systems which may impacton the outcomes produced at the numerous ECD sites and the lack of policyguidelines on ECD.The study was undertaken to analyse and describe the monitoring and evaluation(M&E) system in place for the ECD programme and the institutional arrangementsdesigned to meet the objectives of M&E requirements according to government'spolicies and legislative frameworks. The literature reviewed conceptualised M&E as the basis of further understandingthe key components of M&E and M&E systems as an important public managementtool used to demonstrate results. This was a case study research which followed aqualitative research design with quantitative elements also referred to as a mixedmethodapproach to collect information for analysis. The primary data was collectedusing semi-structured questionnaires which were administered through interviews.The interviewees (programme managers) were purposively selected as keyinformants for the study. The study found that the identified problems were largelydue to the absence of proper guidelines informing M&E of the ECD programme; theabsence of a standardised M&E system and processes for reporting on ECDactivities and the absence of quality assurance mechanisms for information. Aninteresting finding was that ECD reporting occurs outside the GDOH's reportingsystem which is the District Health Information System (DHIS) mainly because theM&E unit of GDOH is not optimally functional. Based on findings from this study, the researcher recommends: ECD programmes toincorporate a mandatory M&E component; designing universalised guidelines foroperations in ECD centres, standardising M&E tools and processes for ECD andcapacity building for ECD programme staff on M&E systems.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University