Multiple technologies in rural contexts

This report documents the monitoring, evaluation, reflections and learnings of the Technology for Rural Education and Development (Tech4RED) initiative spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in the Nciba Circuit in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape. The DST initiated this distinctive and innovative intervention in 26 schools in the Nciba Circuit to enrich the teaching and learning of mathematics, science and technology in this rural environment. Conducted in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Eastern Cape Department of Education and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, and operating within a policy context the initiative was intended to contribute to the improvement of teaching and learning, and change in material
conditions, in the schools through interventions in six focus areas. These areas are: Information and Communication Technology, Nutrition, Science, Health, Sanitation, and Energy. In the early stages of the conception of the Tech4RED initiative, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) was appointed by the DST to conduct the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of the Tech4RED project. Noting that the
learnings and feedback from those involved in the intervention are instrumental sources of data in a comprehensive and accurate evaluation, the M&E framework was developed for the Tech4Red. This framework was designed to go beyond the traditional M&E processes of many studies similar in nature. To this end, the framework design included the processes of Reflection and Learning (R&L), to ensure that the Tech4RED was responsive during the project cycle. This lead to the development of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Reflection and Learning (MERL) framework.