(introduction...)

Evaluation, a powerful tool that can inform and strengthen school health programmes, can be used to plan as well as to document the effects of action. Most evaluations seek to provide information about the extent to which a programme is being implemented as planned and producing the intended effect.

Evaluation helps to:

· Provide information to policy-makers, sponsors, planners, administrators and participants about the implementation and effect of the programme.

· Provide feedback to those involved in project planning to determine which parts of the programme are working well and which are not.

· Make improvements or adjustments in the process of implementation.

· Demonstrate the value of the efforts implemented by the school, parents, students and community members.

· Document experience from a programme so that it can be shared with others.

Responsible officials, members of the school health team or their designees, should regularly review the implementation process and assess the effectiveness of school health interventions. All groups affected by the programme should have the opportunity to provide input. Based on the results of information gathered from evaluation, those involved in planning and carrying out the interventions will make decisions about the programme and its components.

An evaluation is useful and complete only when its results are reported, communicated to those who are involved, and used to improve programme efforts.