Enhancing the Quality of Practical Skills Assessment in Zimbabwean Higher Tertiary Education Institutions

Abstract

This chapter identifies the strategies employed to enhance the quality of practical skills assessment by Zimbabwean higher education institutions (HEI). Quality practical skills can be drivers for the accomplishing of excellence in organisations. Hence, it is necessary to explore how practical skills can be enhanced. Methodologically, the systematic literature review methodology was employed to review 33 published empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals on enhancing the quality of practical skills assessment in a developing country perspective from the year 2005 to 2019. The findings contribute to the research scene by providing significant insight in terms of current trends and the focus of existing research in enhancing quality practical skills assessment. Findings revealed were that item writing, field assignments, case studies, and theoretical assignments, practical and theoretical examinations were appropriate strategies for enhancing practical skills assessment HEI. The findings further revealed that the quality of practical skills assessment can be enhanced through adequate resources, staff professional development, and the use of technology in teaching/learning to improve the competencies, knowledge, and skills of the graduates. It was recommended that there is a need for the development of a holistic model of quality practical skills assessment for improving the acquisition of practical skills by the students.KeywordsAssessmentPractical skillsPsychomotor domainStrategies