Alternative Assessment and Women Education in Nigeria

Abstract

Women in Nigerian Society are in most cases not seen to have been well treated. This in most cases has been attributed to cultural factors which saw the place of the woman as in the kitchen. The situation is fast changing though and in some states within Nigeria there is a preponderance of women in schools. In many states, women education centers have been established to open up educational opportunities for women folk. Very often, the emphasis have been on vocational education specialties which in most cases are mainly amenable to alternative assessment if the psychomotor outcomes they emphasis are to be realized. This paper examines the women educationprograms as presently implemented in two states in Nigeria. A sample of fifty two trainers was used as source of data collection. A questionnaire which explores the assessment processes utilized was constructed. Supervisors of two of the centers were interviewed. The data was analyzed using an interpretative norm and thick descriptions. Alternative assessment procedures used often were identified. Based on the results it was recommended that teachers in these centers should be assisted to put into practice the use of some authentic assessment techniques.