An Exploratory Investigation into the Development of a Distance Education Provision Quality Index
Keywords:
ODL quality indicators, quality dimensions, quality index, quality measures, quality assessmentAbstract
Diminishing education budgets experienced by Sub-Saharan Africa (SAA) as a result of both the global economic slowdown and unabated demand for access to educational opportunities have combined to sustain growing interest in open and distance learning as an important and credible part of education delivery strategies at all levels. However, greater accountability is shifting the spotlight from access to quality distance education. This paper reports on the results of an exploratory study of the quality of distance education provision in a sub-Saharan African medium-sized open and distance education institution. The main purpose of the study was to determine whether the major factors that contribute to the effective delivery of distance education were in place. The study focussed on the quality of distance education by assessing perceptions of staff in six main quality areas, including course development, learner support, instructional support, teaching/learning experience, staff support, and assessment and evaluation, to create awareness and promote commitment to quality at all levels of the institution. Data collected using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire were analysed and the results were used to develop a Distance Education Provision Quality Index (DEPQE) that assists in assessing the quality of distance education provision and determining challenges in the provision of quality distance education. In doing so, the study sought to raise awareness among administrators, academics, and learners of the importance of monitoring the quality of distance education and to motivate the incorporation of quality benchmarks into institutional policies, procedures and practices.
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