responsibility for the implementation and management of the SSFGS has been delegated to the TOC team. There is still a significant reliance by schools on the support, advice and guidance provided by the TOC team. No other person in MESC has a complete understanding of the detail and complexity of the scheme. With the exception of the Team Leader, the TOC team is no longer employed. The Team Leader now has responsibility for both the primary and secondary school grants schemes, and does not have the time to provide all the support that is necessary for primary schools. Further, her contract is due to finish in July 2016. Reliance on a single person for management responsibility means that the whole scheme is vulnerable. The establishment of 12 School Review Officer positions has been approved and budgeted for, but the appointment process for the positions has not begun. Of equal concern is the need for leadership of the SSFGS. It is too large a task to be subsumed into the role of the ACEO of the Schools Operation Division to which position the SROs will be responsible. Recommendations have been made elsewhere to help ensure that the risk to sustainability outlined above is managed. 5 Evaluation Conclusions This section summarises the conclusions of the Evaluation, on the analysis in the previous chapter. Without doubt, schools have benefited significantly from the SSFGS (the Scheme). The analysis of data collected against the Development Assistance Committee criteria (relevance; effectiveness; efficiency; impact; and sustainability) found that the Scheme generally worked well, provided value for money, and supported schools in achieving their educational objectives. The benefits include that: Financial barriers have been reduced though not eliminated for all parents. Over 200 children previously not attending school are now enrolled. Principals, in association with their school committees, have become financial managers as well as professional leaders. Training has been provided and most principals are now competent financial managers.
responsibility for the implementation and management of the SSFGS has been delegated to the TOC team. There is still a significant reliance by schools on the support, advice and guidance provided by the TOC team. No other person in MESC has a complete understanding of the detail and complexity of the scheme. With the exception of the Team Leader, the TOC team is no longer employed. The Team Leader now has responsibility for both the primary and secondary school grants schemes, and does not have the time to provide all the support that is necessary for primary schools. Further, her contract is due to finish in July 2016. Reliance on a single person for management responsibility means that the whole scheme is vulnerable. The establishment of 12 School Review Officer positions has been approved and budgeted for, but the appointment process for the positions has not begun. Of equal concern is the need for leadership of the SSFGS. It is too large a task to be subsumed into the role of the ACEO of the Schools Operation Division to which position the SROs will be responsible. Recommendations have been made elsewhere to help ensure that the risk to sustainability outlined above is managed. 5 Evaluation Conclusions This section summarises the conclusions of the Evaluation, on the analysis in the previous chapter. Without doubt, schools have benefited significantly from the SSFGS (the Scheme). The analysis of data collected against the Development Assistance Committee criteria (relevance; effectiveness; efficiency; impact; and sustainability) found that the Scheme generally worked well, provided value for money, and supported schools in achieving their educational objectives. The benefits include that: Financial barriers have been reduced though not eliminated for all parents. Over 200 children previously not attending school are now enrolled. Principals, in association with their school committees, have become financial managers as well as professional leaders. Training has been provided and most principals are now competent financial managers.
samoa-school-fees-grant-scheme-evaluation.docx