Extension Programme planning- Meaning, Process, principles & Steps in Programme development.
Extension Programme Planning: Meaning
The first step in any systematic attempt to promote rural development is to prepare useful programmes based on people needs. The development of such programmes, require planning which harmonize with the local needs as the people see them and with the national interests with which the country as a whole is concerned, is an important responsibility of extension personnel at all levels national, state, district, block & village.
Programme planning is the process of making decisions about the direction & intensity of extension-education efforts of extension-service to bring about social, economic & technological changes.
Program planning is a process which involves multiple steps including the identification of a problem, selection of desired outcomes, assessment of available resources, implementation and evaluation of the program. In other words it is a procedure of working with the people to recognize unsatisfactory situations or problems and to determine possible solutions.
According to Kelsey and Hearne (1967) An Extension Porgramme is a statement of situation, objective, problems and solutions. It is relatively permanent but requires constant revision.
Leagans (1961) says that an ‘extension programme’ is a set of clearly defined, consciously conceived objectives or ends, derived from an adequate analysis of the situation, which are to be achieved through extension teaching activity'.
Lawrence (1962) says that an ‘extension programme’ is the sum total of all the activities and undertakings of a county extension services. It includes: (i) programme planning process (ii) written programme statement (iii) plan of work (iv) programme execution (v) results and (vi) evaluation.
Programme planning: Programme planning is a decision making process which involves critical analysis of the existing problems and evaluation of available best alternatives to solve these problems by cooperative efforts of the people for community growth and development.
Some relevant terms required to understand in programme planning given below:
Programme: Programme is a written statement which describes proposed developmental activities, the problems they address, the actions, and resources required.
Planning: it is a process which involves studying the past and present in order to forecast the future and in the light of that forecast determining he goal to be achieved.
Plan: Plan is schedule of development work outlining different activities in a specific period. It answers the questions like what, why, how, and when as well as by whom and where the work is to be done.
Aims: Aims are generalized and broad statement of directions with respect to given activities. eg. The improvement of farmers’ economic condition.
Objectives: Objectives are expression of ends towards which our efforts are directed. The dictionary meaning of objective is ‘something that one’s efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish’ e.g. To increase the yield of rice by 30 percent.
Goal: Goal is the distance in any given direction one expects to go during a given period of time e.g. to increase yield of rice by 10 quintals per hectare in the current year.
Problem: It refers to a situation, condition, or issue that is yet unresolved and after study people decided need to change it.
Solution: Solution is a course of proposed action to change an unsatisfactory condition to one that is more satisfying.
Project: it is a specification of work to be done or procedures to be followed in order to accomplish a particular objective.
Plan: It is a predetermined course of action.
Plan of work: it is an outline of activities so arranged as to enable efficient execution of the programme. The plan of work indicates what, who, how and when the activities will carried out.
Calendar of Work: Calendar of work is a plan of activities to be undertaken in a particular time sequence.
Objectives of Programme
The general objective of an extension programme is to influence people to transform their life in better way. The assumption is that there is a need for change and make people aware are of this, if they are not and to develop their needs. Important objectives of having a programme planning as per Kelsey and Hearne (1966) are as follows:1. To ensure careful consideration of what is to be done and why.
2. To furnish a guide against which to judge all new proposals.
3. To establish objectives toward which progress can be measured and evaluated.
4. To have a means of choosing the important (deep rooted) from incidental (less important) problems; and the permanent from the temporary changes.
5. To develop a common understanding about the means and ends between functionaries and organizations.
6. To ensure continuity during changes of personnel.
7. To help develop leadership.
8. To avoid wastage of time & money and promote efficiency.
9. To justify expenditure and to ensure flow of funds.
10. To have a statement in written form for public use.
Extension programmes have the definite purpose of improving rural life through individual, group and community action. Extension programme planning has certain principles, which holds good irrespective of the nature of the clientele, and the enterprises they may be pursuing, viz.:
1. Extension programmes should be based on an analysis of the past experiences, present situation and future needs.
For programme determination adequate information about the people and their situation have to be collected. The present information is to be analyses and interpreted on the basis of past experiences, by taking local people into confidence. This shall help in arriving at the future needs
2. Extension programmes should have clear and significant objectives, which could satisfy important needs of the people.
The main objective of programme development is to satisfy the need of people. For this purpose significant objectives pertaining to important needs of the people should be selected and clearly stated. The emphasis will be on what is attainable rather than on what is ideal although one should not lose sight of the ideal.
3. Extension programmes should fix up priority on the basis of available resources and time.
Generally in developed countries rural people have multiple problems but at the same time all problems cannot be taken up for solution because of limitation of the available resources. Therefore considering this fact priority should be decided in the programme.
4. Extension programmes should clearly indicate the availability and utilization of resources.
To make programme practical and workable it is important to clearly indicate the availability of funds, facilities, supplies and the needed personnel and how these resources will be utilized.
5. Extension programmes should have a general agreement at various levels.
5. To develop a common understanding about the means and ends between functionaries and organizations.
6. To ensure continuity during changes of personnel.
7. To help develop leadership.
8. To avoid wastage of time & money and promote efficiency.
9. To justify expenditure and to ensure flow of funds.
10. To have a statement in written form for public use.
Principles of Extension Programme Planning
Extension programmes have the definite purpose of improving rural life through individual, group and community action. Extension programme planning has certain principles, which holds good irrespective of the nature of the clientele, and the enterprises they may be pursuing, viz.:
1. Extension programmes should be based on an analysis of the past experiences, present situation and future needs.
For programme determination adequate information about the people and their situation have to be collected. The present information is to be analyses and interpreted on the basis of past experiences, by taking local people into confidence. This shall help in arriving at the future needs
2. Extension programmes should have clear and significant objectives, which could satisfy important needs of the people.
The main objective of programme development is to satisfy the need of people. For this purpose significant objectives pertaining to important needs of the people should be selected and clearly stated. The emphasis will be on what is attainable rather than on what is ideal although one should not lose sight of the ideal.
3. Extension programmes should fix up priority on the basis of available resources and time.
Generally in developed countries rural people have multiple problems but at the same time all problems cannot be taken up for solution because of limitation of the available resources. Therefore considering this fact priority should be decided in the programme.
4. Extension programmes should clearly indicate the availability and utilization of resources.
To make programme practical and workable it is important to clearly indicate the availability of funds, facilities, supplies and the needed personnel and how these resources will be utilized.
5. Extension programmes should have a general agreement at various levels.
Programme prepared at various levels such as village, district, state and national levels. The extension programme of any department or level should not be conflict or contradict with the extension programme of the any other department or level.
6. Extension programmes should involve people at the local level.
Extension programme are implemented at local level. Therefore, local people should be involved in all stages starting from programme formulation to programme implementation.
6. Extension programmes should involve people at the local level.
Extension programme are implemented at local level. Therefore, local people should be involved in all stages starting from programme formulation to programme implementation.
7. Extension programmes should involve relevant institutions and organization.
Extension programme cannot be implemented in isolation. It requires the support of many institution and organizations. The programme should broadly indicate the institutions and organizations to be involved and how they shall contribute in attaining the programme objectives.
8. Extension programme should have definite plan of work.
The plan of work may be separately drawn up or incorporated in the programme. The programme should at least broadly indicate how it will be executed.
9. Extension programme should provide for evaluation of results and reconsideration of the programme.
The programme should make provision for periodical monitoring and evaluation of results to judge its progress. On the basis of the findings of evaluation the programme should be suitably modified for attainment of objectives within the stipulated time.
10. Extension programmes should provide for equitable distribution of benefits amongst the members of the community.
In community generally resource full persons benefited more compared to resource poor in any programme. As this creates social disparity and social tension the planning of extension programmes should give adequate emphasis on the weaker section of the community.
The program development process is on-going and continuous. Each educational initiative, workshop or event we carry out modifies the initial situation. As a consequence, any plan of action continues to evolve and change as the situation or context changes.
8. Extension programme should have definite plan of work.
The plan of work may be separately drawn up or incorporated in the programme. The programme should at least broadly indicate how it will be executed.
9. Extension programme should provide for evaluation of results and reconsideration of the programme.
The programme should make provision for periodical monitoring and evaluation of results to judge its progress. On the basis of the findings of evaluation the programme should be suitably modified for attainment of objectives within the stipulated time.
10. Extension programmes should provide for equitable distribution of benefits amongst the members of the community.
In community generally resource full persons benefited more compared to resource poor in any programme. As this creates social disparity and social tension the planning of extension programmes should give adequate emphasis on the weaker section of the community.
Steps in Extension Programme Planning Process
The process of extension, as applied to development programmes, involves five essential phases (SOTER) i.e. Analyzing the Situation, Objectives or Goals to be Accomplished, Teaching, Evaluating the Teaching, Reconsidering (Leagans, 1961). These steps are intended only to clarify the necessary actions in carrying out a planned extension educational effort.The program development process is on-going and continuous. Each educational initiative, workshop or event we carry out modifies the initial situation. As a consequence, any plan of action continues to evolve and change as the situation or context changes.
Fig. Steps of Programme Planning
1. Collection of facts:
Sound plans are based on availability of relevant & reliable facts. This includes facts about the village people, physical conditions, existing farm & home practices, trends & outlook. Besides, other facts about customs, traditions, rural institutions, peoples' organisations operating in the area, etc. should be collected. The tools & techniques for collecting data include systematic observations, a questionnaire, interviews & surveys, existing governmental records, census reports, reports of the Planning Commission, Central Bureau of Statistics, and the past experiences of people.
2. Analysis of the situation:
After collecting facts, they are analysed and interpreted to find out the problems & needs of the people.
3. Identification of problems:
As a result of the analysis of facts, the important gaps between 'what is' & 'what ought to be' are identified and the problems leading to such a situation are located. These gaps represent the people’s needs.
4. Determination of objectives:
Once the needs & problems of the people have been identified, they are stated in terms of objectives & goals. The objectives represent a forecast of the changes in the behaviour of the people and the situation to be brought about. The objectives may be long-term as well as short-term, and must be stated clearly.
5. Developing the plan of work
In order to achieve the stated objectives & goals, the means & methods attaining each objective are selected; and the action plan, i.e. the calendar of activities is developed. It includes the technical content, who should do what, and the time-limit within the work will be completed. The plan of work may be seasonal, short-term, annual or long-term.
6. Execution of the plan of work:
Once the action plan has been developed, arrangement for supplying the necessary inputs, credits, teaching aids, extension literature etc. has to be made and the specific action has to be initiated. The execution of the plan of work is to be done through extension methods for stimulating individuals and groups to think, act and participate effectively. People should be involved at every step to ensure the success of the programme.
7. Evaluation:
It is done to measure the degree of success of the programme in terms of the objectives & goals set forth. This is basically done to determine the changes in the behaviour of the people as a result of the extension programme. The evaluation is done not only of the physical achievements but also of the methods & techniques used and of the other steps in the programme planning process, so that the strong & weak points may be identified and necessary changes may be incorporated accordingly.
8. Reconsideration:
The systematic and periodic evaluation of the programme will reveal the weak and strong points of the programme. Based on these points, the programme is reconsidered and the necessary adjustments & changes are made in order to make it more meaningful & sound.
Programme planning is not the end-product of extension activities, but it is an educational tool for helping people to identify their own problems and make timely & judicious decisions. From the above mentioned cycle, it is clear that the planning of an extension programme comprises a logical series of consecutive steps. The first 4 steps form the programme-phase. The steps 5-7 form the action phase. The step 8, i.e. reconsideration, joins the 2 phases together, where it leads to the fact-collecting step, thus beginning once more the never ending or continuous process of planning the extension programme.
Sound plans are based on availability of relevant & reliable facts. This includes facts about the village people, physical conditions, existing farm & home practices, trends & outlook. Besides, other facts about customs, traditions, rural institutions, peoples' organisations operating in the area, etc. should be collected. The tools & techniques for collecting data include systematic observations, a questionnaire, interviews & surveys, existing governmental records, census reports, reports of the Planning Commission, Central Bureau of Statistics, and the past experiences of people.
2. Analysis of the situation:
After collecting facts, they are analysed and interpreted to find out the problems & needs of the people.
3. Identification of problems:
As a result of the analysis of facts, the important gaps between 'what is' & 'what ought to be' are identified and the problems leading to such a situation are located. These gaps represent the people’s needs.
4. Determination of objectives:
Once the needs & problems of the people have been identified, they are stated in terms of objectives & goals. The objectives represent a forecast of the changes in the behaviour of the people and the situation to be brought about. The objectives may be long-term as well as short-term, and must be stated clearly.
5. Developing the plan of work
In order to achieve the stated objectives & goals, the means & methods attaining each objective are selected; and the action plan, i.e. the calendar of activities is developed. It includes the technical content, who should do what, and the time-limit within the work will be completed. The plan of work may be seasonal, short-term, annual or long-term.
6. Execution of the plan of work:
Once the action plan has been developed, arrangement for supplying the necessary inputs, credits, teaching aids, extension literature etc. has to be made and the specific action has to be initiated. The execution of the plan of work is to be done through extension methods for stimulating individuals and groups to think, act and participate effectively. People should be involved at every step to ensure the success of the programme.
7. Evaluation:
It is done to measure the degree of success of the programme in terms of the objectives & goals set forth. This is basically done to determine the changes in the behaviour of the people as a result of the extension programme. The evaluation is done not only of the physical achievements but also of the methods & techniques used and of the other steps in the programme planning process, so that the strong & weak points may be identified and necessary changes may be incorporated accordingly.
8. Reconsideration:
The systematic and periodic evaluation of the programme will reveal the weak and strong points of the programme. Based on these points, the programme is reconsidered and the necessary adjustments & changes are made in order to make it more meaningful & sound.
Programme planning is not the end-product of extension activities, but it is an educational tool for helping people to identify their own problems and make timely & judicious decisions. From the above mentioned cycle, it is clear that the planning of an extension programme comprises a logical series of consecutive steps. The first 4 steps form the programme-phase. The steps 5-7 form the action phase. The step 8, i.e. reconsideration, joins the 2 phases together, where it leads to the fact-collecting step, thus beginning once more the never ending or continuous process of planning the extension programme.