internal and external evaluation

1. Internal and External
Evaluation
Presented by,
Shabnom. Shan
Optional: English
Christ Nagar College Of Education,Thiruvallom

2. About Evaluations….
Conducting an evaluation for a programme or project
is one of the best things any developmental
organizations look forward to especially if there is an
optimistic sense that good results were achieved.You
have to admit however, that most of the times an
evaluation will always be a really tense moment for
all programme or project staff.Whatever the case,
evaluations have a very unique purpose in the project
or programme cycle which should never ever be
ignored.

3. INTERNAL EVALUATION
This is an evaluation that is carried out by
someone from the actual project team.

4. EXTERNAL EVALUATION
This is an evaluation that is carried out by someone
who is ( or was ) not directly involved in the
development or operation of the system being
evaluated, i.e., by someone from out with the project
team.

5. External evaluation - Advantages
▪ They increase the credibility of the findings.
▪ They can look at the project with a “ Fresh style”.
▪ Having an external evaluator can help keep staff
and evaluator roles well defined.
▪ More likely to be impartial.

6. External evaluation - Disadvantages
▪ External evaluators do not always understand
implementation issues and may create evaluation
plans that are not realistic.
▪ External evaluations can be expensive.
▪ External evaluators do not necessarily have
background knowledge (beyond their evaluation
expertise).
▪ It may be difficult to ascertain the competence of
the external evaluator.

7. Internal evaluation - Advantages
▪ Immediate technical assistance can be provided
because the evaluator is on-site.
▪ Internal evaluator is more integrated in to the process
and the team.
▪ Typically less expensive.
▪ The internal evaluator has first hand knowledge of the
organization’s philosophy, policies, procedures and
management.

8. Internal evaluation - Disadvantages
▪ With more than one role in the project, it may be
difficult at times for an on-staff evaluator to give
the appropriate time and attention to either role.
▪ It may be misused by teachers.
▪ It cannot replace external examinations.
▪ It requires a lot of time to undertake several
activities related to internal evaluation.

9. Difference between Internal and External
evaluation and their benefits
▪ Internal evaluation is the process of assigning staff
members in an organization to conduct an evaluation of
programmes or projects being implemented by the same
organization. In short, this evaluation is done by staff
members for the organizations.
▪ External evaluation involves contracting an external
consultant or specialist to carry out an evaluation who is
not an employee of an organization. In most cases, this is
usually what developmental organizations choose to go for
due to various reasons. Evaluations like this are sometimes
criticized for being too expensive and most times the
evaluator doesn’t understand the organization to the full.

10. Conclusion
The role of these evaluations as part of an overall quality
assurance system is no east matter. Education policy makers
in various countries across the globe are currently struggling
with this problem. Questioning existing practices and looking
for possible alternatives often seems only to leave us with yet
more questions. After having this brief understanding of the
two kinds of evaluations, we can make the final decision.We
should remember that both have their benefits and
remember both can actually provide the information we are
looking for.