Statusrapport
Mid-term Evaluation of Community Integrated Education Program (CIEP)
The Department of Community Services (DCS) of the United Methodist Church of Liberia (UMC) in partnership with the Mission Alliance Norway is implementing the Community Integrated Education Program (CIEP) in seven rural towns in Liberia in three counties. The program consists of constructing schools, teachers’ quarters and playgrounds. In addition, there is a large community-strengthening component consisting of awareness raising within various areas, and training of local Project Committee members, members of the Parents, Teachers, Students Associations (PTSA) and leaders of students’ clubs. To secure local ownership of the project, there is a built-in demand for local contribution including provision of land, local material and volunteer labour. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the United Methodist Church and the Ministry of Education (MOE) where the Ministry assumes full responsibility of all the schools after five years. A cash-crop farm will be established in each community under the program to provide a maintenance fund for the schools for the future. The main purpose of the evaluation is to evaluate the model of community integrated education approach and the structures for program implementation to find out if the program is on track to achieve the program plans, and assess potential necessary adjustments/revisions to achieve the long-term goal of improving the school situation in the program implementation areas. An additional aim of the evaluation is to use it as a learning opportunity for DCS and communities involved, in order to enhance their understanding and participation in the project.