What is a program objective?

A program objective is a specific and usually quantifiable statement of program achievement. It is a statement of measurable outcome which can be used to determine program progress towards the program goal. Collectively, objectives represent a quantification of the program goal.

Here is an example set of program objectives from a literacy program for a small language group:

• The program will produce 5,000 adult literates from the basic literacy classes.
• The program will graduate 3,000 adults from advanced classes.
• The program will train 80 teachers.
• The program will train 10 literacy supervisors.
• The program will establish a basic curriculum of nine pieces including a primer, a teacher's guide, a basic reader, an advanced primer, an advanced reader, a transition primer, a basic math book, an applied math book, and an introduction to spoken and written French.
• The program will establish an on-going literature production process.
• The program will publish 30 titles in the mother tongue.
• The program will organize 30 women's reading clubs.
• The program will organize a 12-member program guidance team to sponsor and promote the literacy program.
• The program will organize 10 farmers' cooperatives.
• The program will develop 15 health centers.
• The program will take steps to integrate this overall program into the ongoing national adult literacy program.

• Defining program objectives

• Concept module: program objective
• In overview module: Glossary (Literacy): P
• In modular book: Glossary of literacy terms
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 26 August 1999

© 1999 SIL International