Fijian primary school leaders’ beliefs and practices about assessment

ABSTRACT

School leaders have an important role in supervising learning and instruction. In these roles, they use a variety of assessment methods to measure and support student learning. Their beliefs about assessment can have an impact on how they perceive and use different forms of assessment. This study sought to explore assessment related beliefs and practices of a small group of Fijian Head Teachers. The findings suggest that they hold mixed beliefs about assessment. The findings also suggest that the Head Teachers made attempts to make formative use of written or other assessments they used. They registered little support for too much formal, standardized testing.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary
• school leaders
• assessment
• beliefs

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the The University of the South Pacific (Grant number F2046 - FAL12).

Notes on contributors

Hem Dayal

Hem Dayal is a Lecturer in educational assessment and evaluation at the University of the South Pacific. His research interest lies in the area of classroom assessments and teacher professional learning in assessment for learning.

Govinda Lingam

Govinda Lingam is a professor of taecher education and the Head of School of Education at the University of the South Pacific. His research interest is in educational leadership.

Lalesh Sharma

Lalesh Sharma is an Assistant Lecturer in school leadership and a PhD scholar at the the University of the South Pacific.

Billy Fitoo

Billy Fitoo is a Lecturer in Education at the University of the South Pacific and teaches edcuational leadership and planning.

Vulori Sarai

Vulori Sarai is an Assistant Lecturer and a PhD student at the University of the South Pacific.