Monitoring and Evaluation Systems and Educational Programme Effectiveness in Bauchi State

This study investigates the role of monitoring and evaluation systems in enhancing educational programme effectiveness in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. Monitoring and evaluation is a critical component of evidence-based educational planning, enabling administrators and policymakers to track programme implementation, measure outcomes, and make data-informed adjustments. In Bauchi State, the development of functional monitoring and evaluation systems within the state education bureaucracy has faced significant technical, financial, and institutional constraints. The study adopts a descriptive survey design and samples 180 education planners, monitoring officers, and school administrators from the Bauchi State Ministry of Education and four local government education authorities. A validated questionnaire and document review checklist are used for data collection, and analysis employs mean ratings and regression analysis. The study is anchored on the Logical Framework Approach to monitoring and evaluation. Findings reveal that educational programmes in districts with functional monitoring and evaluation units demonstrate higher rates of policy compliance, better fund utilisation, and more measurable progress on key performance indicators. Underfunding, lack of trained monitoring personnel, and weak data management infrastructure are identified as systemic obstacles. The study recommends the establishment of a dedicated state education monitoring and evaluation directorate in Bauchi State with adequate funding and technical expertise. Keywords: monitoring and evaluation, educational programmes, educational planning, Bauchi State, programme effectiveness.