Programme Evaluation for Quality Assessment in Distance Learning

Abstract

Quality assessment of basic standards in education and training is under debate particularly with regard to its focus and methodology. Monitoring of the performance of educational institutions is a matter of increasing significance. It is more relevant for distance learning because it is essentially a learner‐based system. Moreover, its global expansion during the last three decades is reflecting world‐wide foundational, pedagogical and functional changes in its philosophy, methodology and approach. One of the latest developments in this direction is the use of programme evaluation for quality assessment in its educational provisions and processes. The chief aim, therefore, in the context of distance learning is to make the learners more active and responsive to what they learn and how they learn. Determination of a sound basis, adoption of a rational approach, and establishment of feasible framework of programme evaluation for quality assessment in distance learning are the major themes of this paper.