National Action Plan 2013-2014:  Findings of the Evaluation Report

The Third Biennial National Conference on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) also led to the convocation of side events to cover the many facets of the Action Plan.  As part of this process a consultative workshop was organized on 26^th February 2015 at the STC Conference Room with the aim of generating discussions on the draft evaluation report and receiving feedback from the ECCE sectors and partners directly involved in the implementation of the Plan.  More specifically, the ECCE Technical Teams and Senior Management Officials from the Education, Health and Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports sectors, and IECD were invited.

The Action Plan is the official document that provides strategic direction to ECCE in Seychelles. It has influenced sectoral plans and led to projects, programmes, research, and monitoring and developmental activities within the two-year implementation cycle. The evaluation sought to document achievements, trace progress and confront the challenges.

Dr André Leste, Director for Programme Coordination at IECD made a presentation in three segments: achievement of outcomes, operational effectiveness, and assessment of impact.  After each segment, participants had the opportunity through a group exercise to compare their judgments and perceptions with those presented and engage in a feedback plenary session.  The workshop’s consultative style allowed the participants to express their opinions and exchange ideas regarding the evaluation results.  They also expressed their views regarding the role of the ECCE Technical Team and its effectiveness in the implementation of the Action Plan. There was general agreement that considerable progress has been made. Through the implementation of the Action Plan sectoral projects and programmes had been designed and some of them implemented, collaboration within and between sectors have been initiated or strengthened, partnership across sectors have been built or enhanced. There is substantial evidence to show that the objectives of the Action Plan are important for the development of ECCE provision in Seychelles.

The workshop was concluded with a discussion on emerging issues to be considered for the future. These include research actions, baseline data, action planning framework, and information on child development outcome.