Outcome-Based Assessment

Assessment is a process that asks and answers important questions in an Education and Training institution. Such questions include: To what degree are students learning? Are courses effective? Do programs fulfill their missions? Is the institution in accord with objectives set by its accrediting body? Institutions must fulfill these by providing safe and conducive environments to meet the needs of all learners. Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) Act requires all Education and Training Providers (ETPs) to make provision for ensuring assessment and moderation requirements are met for all learning programmes that are on offer. There should be a policy on assessment to provide for the implementation of outcome-based assessment system. The policy should ensure the processes are fair, valid, consistent, secure, and appropriate “as per the guidelines of the regulator. There should be structure for coordination of assessment with clear roles and responsibilities as well as levels of accountabilities and appropriate procedures on the security of assessments, for handling and securing confidential assessment materials.

Therefore the purpose of this course is to equip participants with the skills to identify assessment needs, design, plan, implement and or conduct appropriate, valid and fair assessment procedures in line with the requirement and needs of different programmes on offer. They will do this bearing in mind the different learning styles of those they plan to assess with the understanding of the principles thereof. Learners should also be able to give feedback on assessment and be in a position to review procedures.