A Comparative Study of ESL Learner Perspectives on Assessment and Evaluation Practices with Special Reference to Metropolitan and Peripheral Universities in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The role played by assessment and evaluation in the ESL educational context are so vital that they help to measure learning progress of students and the effect of pedagogical applications. The attention paid to learner perspectives on assessment has been gaining recognition in the recent years. The purpose of the study is to identify the concerns of learner perspectives on ESL assessment practices in the university sector in Sri Lanka. The study was conducted as a quantitative survey using a questionnaire administered online via Google Form to a population of 685 university students of which 461 were from peripheral universities while 224 were from metropolitan universities. The data analysed through SPSS software revealed that the areas; modes of testing and online testing were found to record moderate and low satisfaction by the respondents. Further, students of peripheral universities had indicated lesser satisfaction compared to students of the metropolitan universities in all the four areas; effect of objectives of testing, effect of flexibility of testing, effect of modes of testing, and effect of online testing. Based on the findings, it is proposed that learner-friendly assessment practices be implemented in the national universities in Sri Lanka. Further studies with university - specific surveys on learner perspectives would be needed for enhanced understanding and ESL programme development