Assuring Quality in Students’ Practicum Experience in Adult and Non-Formal Education Programme: Challenges and Way Forward

Abstract

The paper highlights the quest for Quality Assurance (QA) for standardisation in Adult and Non-Formal Education practicum experience. A considerable attention has always been given to the quality of teaching and implementing adult and non-formal education programmes, but little is paid to the students’ practicum exercises. This has serious implications for the quality of skills attained by the students on graduation. An attempt has been made to assess the present status of quality assurance in students’ practicum experiences. An effort is also made to discuss the development and validation of instruments for students’ Practicum experience before, during and after the Practicum. It gives a general overview of various practices to guarantee quality assurance and to be in tandem with the current trends in global Quality Assurance practices. Life-coping and practical skills of critical observation, innovation, identification, measurement, comparative analysis, and interpretation of data in relation to the conduct of Practicum are discussed. The challenges against assuring Quality in Adult Education and Non-Formal Practicum Programme were discussed, and the way forward was highlighted. The paper concludes that quality assurance is key for practical development of skills for certification in Adult Education Programmes. The paper recommends among others that adequate orientation and training should be organized for the students before proceeding on practicum assignment to lay the foundation for a quality-assured practicum each time the students go for the experience.