Teachers' concerns, challenges and experiences with the current assessment practices in Maldives secondary grades / Siruhana Idrees

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify teachers' concerns, challenges and experiences with the current assessment practices in secondary grades of Maldives. By adopting a qualitative case study research design data was collected using interviews and document analysis to understand the phenomena in depth from the perspectives of the participants. Two secondary schools were selected based on purposive sampling from the capital city of Male'. The data was obtained from six teachers teaching in the secondary grades of the two schools were selected. Teachers were selected from different secondary grades; grades 8, 9, and 10. The major findings of the study revealed that the ongoing assessment practices had moulded students' attitude and motivation to learn towards achievement in exams. Teachers' were unable to encourage development of independent learners among students due to the importance given for exams. At the same time parental expectation and their influence on students' learning is increasing. Teachers' flexibility and authority in the process of assessment is restricted due to emphasis given to prepare students for exams. The reason that student assessment results are too important for the school teachers' performance is measured based on student exam results. Also the lack information about students' performance is considered as a concerning issue. The lack of knowledge about MOE and participants respective schools assessment policy teachers are unknown about the flexibility provided in the assessment guideline regarding assessment practices. This calls for a change in the process of current assessment practices.