ESSPIN Moves Towards Curriculum Improvement

A training on Monitoring Learning Achievement (MLA) for 45 enumerators from Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa States took place from Monday 24th to Friday 29th May 2010in Kano. This ESSPIN-funded training was conducted to impart skills in monitoring the basic education system by sampling students across the States who were tested in a selected subject area.

The Federal Government has shown nationwide interest in MLA. It has run its own pilot testing studies using Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) items and plans nationwide testing (sampling students from each state) and complementary to the Federal MLA, ESSPIN is promoting oral and written MLA using enumerators working with students in a 1:1 situation.

This approach differs from previous ones because it is less reliant on written responses, less reliant on English for giving instructional guidelines and is able to judge when the testing is unsuitable for the student (and hence can be stopped as appropriate).

MLA is conducted to identify strengths and weaknesses in the student learning process within the State, recommend targets/benchmarks to guide stakeholders, modify learning outcomes and make future suggestions for the improvement of the curriculum.

This activity is being conducted by the ESSPIN education quality specialists and is ESSPIN-funded as part of its pledged support to the states towards viable education reforms.