Assessment towards quality improvement in Free State primary schools: a management challenge

[摘要] English: Article 1 Education in South Africa has undergone major transformations, in which the search for quality has remained dominant. Assessment quality is related to thecontinuous improvement of teachers' competencies in order to provideeducation which would address the needs of its customers (teachers andlearners). Numerous evidence exists that outcomes-based assessment seemsto be problem among teachers and research has revealed that qualitymanagement could be the vehicle to improve the quality of assessment inschools. In terms of Total Quality Management, aspects such as the focusupon customer needs and the quest for continuous improvement through staffdevelopment by the organisational leader (principal), could make a valuablecontribution to quality education in the Free State Province.A preliminary study revealed the relationship between staff development andteachers' attitudes towards outcomes-based assessment. Thereafter, ahypothesis was tested by means of the t-test to determine the efficacy of staffdevelopment as a vehicle for continuous improvement in schools. Furthermorea number of qualitative responses revealed respondents' views on staffdevelopment and exposed teachers' expectations from their school leaders toimprove the quality of their assessment practices in Free State primary schools.Article 2 Quality in an organisation to a large extent depends on the leader who hasto manage a system towards continuous improvement. A literature studyrevealed that the principles of Quality Management can be applied tomanage the quality of assessment in schools. A preliminary studyrevealed that Free State teachers have a need for support and guidanceto improve assessment practices in their schools. However, official SouthAfrican documentation has not assigned assessment leaders in schoolswho can take the responsibility and manage the quality of assessment.Questionnaires were used to conduct an empirical investigation. The datawas computed by means of linear regression, ANOVA as well as aBonferroni post hoc test to determine the extent to which principals cancontribute to quality teaching in Free State schools. The empiricalinvestigation revealed teachers' need for assessment leaders who caninter alia create opportunities for staff development and establish a culturefor quality assessment by taking responsibility for assessment in schools.

[发布机构] University of the Free State