Tuesday, 29 December 2015

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT TESTING BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN TANZANIA

B. F. KIWALE
P.O BOX 774
IRINGA


© Kiwale, F. Brasto 2015


ISBN 9976 911 49 1

First printing 2015, December. 28.


All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or an means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author or B. F Consult P.O. Box 774, Iringa


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INTRODUCTION
Meanings of terms
Test is an instrument or a systematic procedure used to measure a particular behavior. It is like a balance used to obtain weight or a foot to obtain the height of an object or person (Babyegeya, 1998:4).
Testing is the use of devise to measure specific achievements of students of a student in terms given objectives (Omari, 2006:270).
Testing is a process usually involves four distinct stages; planning of the test, writing of the items, administering the test, scoring and analysis of the test (Mbunda, 2006: 125).
TYPES OF TESTS
Functions of testing
Determines whether students are learning what has been taught.
Motivate and helps student structure their academic efforts.
Alert students to topics or skills they have not yet mastered. (Omari, 2006:270).
Consequences of not testing student and teachers
Student’s progress cannot be determined simply because student will not be tested hence there will be difficult to know whether the progress of such student is good or bad.
It will be difficult to assess the effectiveness of the school, academically this will make difficult to determine the effectiveness of the school because it can be determined through testing both teachers and students.
It will be difficult to decide on promotion or selection of students, due to the fact that in order student to be selected to join with another level of education such from primary to secondary level there must be a qualification through testing.
Students will not be motivated. This will discourage them on studying hard since motivation encourages students to study hard. (Mbunda, 2006: 125).
To teacher
It will be difficult for teachers to identify strength and weakness of teaching and learning strategies.
Teachers will fail to identify if students are well capable with what they have learn.
Student will not study hard because they will know that no assessment.
It will not make sound instructional decision. Since through testing in teaching and learning process extends to guidance and counceling so if testing will not occurred guidance and counseling to students will not be properly done and guidance and counseling depend on testing. For example, it is the career master’s responsibility to advice and guide students to select subject combinations institution for further training and vocations it will not appropriate after graduation if test will not be administered. .(Babyegeya, 1998:4).
Sound administrative decision will not be reached/ achieved. The issues of selection of students from primary schools to secondary or secondary to tertially institution will not be achieved without testing. Also classification and grading is one of the administrative decisions which depend on testing so without testing those will not be achieved. (Babyegeya, 1998:4).
Research decisions will not be reached since best decisions are informed decisions are informed decisions and the appropriate information in varies situations is the one that results from tests and measurement. If test will not be administered there will not give the best research decision.(Babyegeya, 1998:4).
Failure to measure how well students have learned what they need to know in each subject.
Not testing of students and teachers lead to the failure of measuring how well a school is serving students and what may be needed in school curriculum.
Teachers will fail to grade the graduation requirements of showing mastery of the students’
Skills.
Lead to poor participation in the process of teaching and learning since teachers and student will don’t care about teaching and learning due to the absence of testing process. (http:// www.pps.k12.or.us.).
Cannot improve the qualities of education. This because we Tanzanians using this way to evaluate students, also teachers has been using it at increasing rate in performance of students, but if there is no test, it will be difficult to improve quality of education because through tests we expects meaningful standards to which school, teachers and students can aspire and help to shape instructions (Joan, Dreyfus and Golan, 1990:1). Also according to major research groups such as “the National Academy of sciences” clearly state that not testing student in a school cannot provides adequate information about school, quality and progress that helps genuine educational improvement ( www.fairtest.organization).
Cannot promote fast and broad changes within school, to student and to teacher. Through this we never expect fast changes to students and teachers. For example if a teacher do not providing tests become difficult to evaluate students, teaching aids and teaching strategies that he/she employ to teach them if are better or bad because are not tested (Herman and Golan,1991:3).











REFERENCE
Prof Mbunda,F.L. (2006). Application of teaching and learning theories. Open University of Tanzania:Dar es salaam.
Omari, I. M. (2006). Education Psychology for Teachers. Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press.
Babyegeya, E.B. (1998). Test and measurements. Open University of Tanzania: Msasani TIRDO Building.
Herman J, L. and Golan, S. (1991). Effects of Standardized Testing on Teachers and Learning—Another Look: CSE Technical Report 334. Washington DC: department of health, education and welfare.
Joan, H. , Dreyfus, J. and Golan, S. (1990). Effects of testing on teaching and learning: CSE Technical Report 327. U.S.



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