Training Manual on a Handbook for Institutionalizing Continuous Assessment in Primary Teacher Education

Abstract

Background The Primary School Curriculum review is one of the reforms Ministry of Education and Sports is implementing to improve the quality of education in the primary sub sector; a major area of focus for the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2004-2015. The plan (p. 6) notes that "children are not learning basic skills in Primary School". As a means of addressing the inequality ESSP, 2004-2015 prioritizes the area of improving Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills, using Continuous Assessment (CA). To date, the revised Primary School Curricular; Thematic P1-3, Transition for P.4, subject oriented for Upper Primary in Primary Five and six are being implemented. One of the major areas of emphasis is a holistic development of learner competences using Continuous Assessment across the curriculum. However, the feedback from implementation of the revised curricula highlights that Continuous Assessment (CA) is a big challenge for teachers and teacher educators who are very critical and are at the centre of implementation. It is further observed that the Coordinating Center Tutors (CCTs) who are the agents of change in primary education need further training in CA, to enable them to adequately provide professional teacher support. On the other hand, the practice of CA in Primary Teachers' Colleges (PTCs) by pre service tutors has been identified as a major challenge. There is therefore a need to train all tutors in CA, who will in turn train the student teachers, and provide continuous professional support to practicing teachers in Primary Schools. Ministry of Education and Sports with support from UNESCO, Oman Fund developed a handbook (2010) on Institutionalization of Continuous Assessment in Primary Teacher Education (PTE). The Self Instructional Training Manual has been developed to support teacher educators in the use of the CA handbook. The CA handbook and Training Manual therefore complement each other, and are intended to enhance training and/or mentoring teachers in all Primary Schools and student teachers in all Primary Teachers' Colleges in authentic methods of CA. Introduction Continuous Assessment is a concept and practice that must be well understood, appreciated and used by every teacher in a professional manner. In this respect, the Training Manual supports the teacher educators, pre service tutors, CCTs, Inspectors of Schools, head teachers and senior teachers/mentors to develop teachers' understanding, appreciation and usage of CA in assessing the progress of learners. In addition the Training Manual will enhance appropriate use of the CA Handbook as a resource. Objectives of the Training Manual The main objective of this Training Manual is to enable the trainer use the Handbook on Continuous Assessment. The manual largely seeks to fulfill the objectives of the CA Handbook (Page 8) through: 1. Sharing experiences on the successes and challenges of using Continuous Assessment in PTCs and Primary Schools 2. Getting acquainted to the Continuous Assessment Handbook, Training Manual and the reporting procedures. 3. Training and mentor teacher educators in all PTCs in authentic methods of conducting Continuous Assessment. 4. Enabling teacher educators use the CA handbook to conduct Continuous Professional Development Courses to both teacher trainees at (PTCs), PTCs and practicing teachers in Primary Schools. 5. Discussing and internalizing the concept of Continuous Assessment. 6. Laying strategies of institutionalizing Continuous Assessment in PTCs and Primary Schools. 7. Developing and demonstrating use of tools for Continuous Assessments in PTCs and Primary Schools. 8. Acquiring skills and techniques of appraising, interpreting and using Continuous Assessment results. Irganization of the Training Manual The Training Manual is organized in training sessions developed for each chapter depending on the scope of the content. There are fifteen training sessions based on eight chapters of the Handbook. Each session comprises: Background, Learning Outcome, Competences, Methodology/Strategies, Training materials, Content Out line, Session Development/Steps, Time, Competence, Instructional strategies, and Resources. Further practice activities and Session notes. The sessions introduce the content of each chapter to the users. The sessions are designed in an interactive way, provide further practice activities and cross reference with CA handbook.