Exploring and Revisiting Realities of Research
Practices in Nepal
- Maheshwor
Rijal,
Kathmandu Universality
There
are several issues related to testing and evaluation in our education system in
Nepalese context. Some of those include carelessness in marking systems, delay
in examination results, abolishment of entrance exams, habit of reading guess-
papers and designing question papers. As a student of Kathmandu University, I
accomplished different practical assignments. The educational standards of
Kathmandu University (KU) have broadened my horizon of thinking, particularly
in terms of almost all the aspects of testing and evaluation including general
principle of testing, evaluating test item, designing and conducting test,
alternative approaches to students’ evaluation and so forth. However, there are
some issues related to testing and evaluation which touched my heart and I have
made an attempt to explore current realities of testing particularly research assessment
at Master Level through this blog entry. I believe that my reflective
understanding will be one of the lessons for improving and minimizing aforementioned
issues allowing conducive environment for learning.
A
couple of months ago, while I was busy in finalizing the first draft of my
research proposal for my supervisor, one of my friends came into my study
room. Observing my hard work and time I
was putting into my research proposal endeavor, he was amazed to see piles of reference
books on educational researches and EFL pedagogy. We had a long tea-talk until I
came to know my friend's secret suggestion to purchase a readymade thesis paper.
“Oh my God, What a terrific and shameful crime!” I replied to his suggestion. On
hearing that, all of my enthusiasms and vigor were gradually going down and
down.
Some
days later, while I was on my way to Tribhuvan University to search for
reference materials in the library, I saw an advertisement of thesis writing
services, which was an utter surprise to me.
The ad was pasted in the electric pools and walls with contact address
and phone numbers of the service provider. It read;
“Available!! Available!!! Thesis of M.A. M.Ed.
only for NRs.7500 rupees”
The
fact that was more astonishing to me was the contact number of the advertiser
explicitly printed on the ad. I moved with my camera and captured the photos of
those ads hanging on the electric-posts. I could realize the disgraceful and
pitiable fate that is waiting ahead of us.
Who is responsible for this? Where is law and order to stop this kind of
sinful business? Then, what is the value
of testing and evaluation? Such kinds of
questions are roaming in my mind even now.
In Kathmandu University, I learned that a research
should aim at transforming a society towards further progress. If so, can this
type of activity really contribute to the debunking of the existing myth of the
society? It is difficult to believe how education can be an efficient
instrument for reshaping the quality of the individual, society, and nation at
large. I was overwhelmed and stressed even though I am carrying out on my
research activities very seriously. Based on my observation and experience, I
have found there is no reading habit developed among the youths. Majority of them nowadays hardly go to
libraries since majority of them are habituated to pass exams without rigorous
studies.
Making educational and intellectual exercises profit
oriented cottage industries like selling the thesis is undoubtedly a criminal
act. These kinds of crimes should be identified as sharp indicators of overall
social degradation, particularly among intellectual circle of the society. Such
activities will have negative backwash in teaching and learning. There will certainly be no value of testing
and evaluation in terms of dissertation writing and other types of
examinations. Unless these heinous and deplorable activities are stopped, there
will be no efficiency, validity and reliability of testing, assessment, and
evaluation. It will generally affect entire education system.
The famous leader Nelson Mandela said, “Education is
the most powerful weapon which can use to change the world”. Does such issue of
testing and evaluation prevailing in our education system be the powerful or
destructive weapon to change our society?
This kind of harmful backwash of education is totally
unacceptable. It is high time the concerning authorities need to take prompt
action to the prevailing issue or it will adversely affect the whole education
system; input, process and output at large. I hope tomorrow will be better than
today. Let’s see………….
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