Do We Need to Redesign the Current Assessment System in Bangladesh? A Review of Theory and Practice

Abstract

In this current age of highly competitive global environment, teachers are under tremendous pressure to assess student learning in the most effective manner. Two tools that teachers commonly utilize to assess students in their classes are formative and summative assessment. In formative assessment, teachers gather data in order to improve student learning and in summative assessment they use the data to assess students’ learning at the end of a specific course of study. The scores on both types of assessment should meet the minimum standards of both reliability and validity. In this article we highlight the differences between the two forms of assessment, discuss the theories pertaining to summative and formative assessment, identify how educators at tertiary level in Bangladesh commonly utilize the two types of assessment and disclose opinions of teachers regarding whether the current assessment system is appropriate or need any further improvements. Findings from the study indicate that most teachers have an incomplete and unharmonious understanding about assessment often failing to clearly distinguish between formative and summative assessments.