The influence of teacher beliefs on their assessment practices

Abstract

After decades of implementing a teacher-centred curriculum in Botswana, a learner-centred curriculum was introduced into the education system in 1998. The course of this, teachers had to make a paradigm shift that radically affected the manner in which they were expected to assess learners. I utilised a qualitative case study as the basis for this research which sets out to investigate how the release of teachers influence their assessment practices. The following three findings emerged from this study: Firstly, although the curriculum recommended a learner-centred approach, teachers have been inadequately trained and prepared for learner-centred assessment. Secondly, despite their inadequate training, it seems that teachers had developed confidence in their ability to carry out these new assessment practices. Thirdly, despite this radical policy change, many teachers are still utilizing teacher-centred assessment practices. Copyright