Quality Assurance Practices In Ghanaian Polytechnics

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis research sought to examine the model Ghana employs to assure quality in polytechnic education, the quality assurance practices in selected Ghanaian polytechnics as well as the weaknesses and challenges of quality assurance in the case institutions and the quality the quality the quality the quality the quality the quality the quality assuranceassurance assurance assurance agenciesagenciesagenciesagenciesagenciesagencies . The . The aim is to propose quality assurance systems that would be more effective in Ghanaian polytechnics.Guided by the interpretive theory of social constructivism, the study used qualitative document content analysis, direct observation and interview techniques to investigate the perceptions of forty (40) participants on the subject under study.The study revealed that Ghana has adopted concepts and methodologies of quality assurance similar to those in the western countries wholesale without due regard to the economic and socio-cultural context of the country. National Accreditation Board (NAB) and National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX) are the two national regulatory agencies responsible for quality assurance in polytechnic education. NAB has adopted only one model of quality assurance for all higher education institutions without taking cognisance of their traditions, missions and culture. Moreover, it has adopted the ‘compliance approach’. This is not in the interest of the Polytechnics since they are infant institutions with financial and logistics challenges when compared to the Universities. Their focus is also different from the Universities. The study further revealed that the most commonly employed quality assurance practices in the institutions are in the areas of quality assurance structures, student admissions procedures, staff recruitment and development processes, teaching and learning processes, examination procedures and institutional self-assessment. In spite of these efforts, the Polytechnics lack a robust internal quality management system to ensure effective self-regulation.The study suggests the development of an appropriate quality assurance model that gives priority to the Ghanaian context in order to make the system relevant and appropriate. NAB and NABPTEX should also move away from the ‘compliance approach’ to the performance improvement model. The study contributes to quality assurance literature by critically examining Ghana’s quality assurance model for higher education. The study further deepens the understanding of quality assurance practices in the perspective of polytechnics in a developing country.

Date of Award	21 May 2015
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Ian Jamieson (Supervisor) & Rajani Naidoo (Supervisor)