Professor of Educational Measurement And Evaluation at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Abia state, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa has underscored that assessment for policy and decision making is an imperative for sustainable development .
She also submitted that it would tantamount to risk making decisions in the dark without assessment that provides the empirical basis upon which policies are formulated , built upon, monitored , and evaluated.
Professor Akanwa said this while delivering the university’s 65th Inaugural Lecture entitled ” Assessment For Policy And Decision Making: An Imperative For Sustainable Development” stressing that policies shape and guide actions, translate research outputs/findings into practice, decisions define destinies, while assessment provides the empirical basis upon which policies are formulated, built upon, monitored and even evaluated.
Professor Akanwa, who is the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Development, explained that the Lecture topic was both timely and necessary, given that ” we live in an era where data-driven policies significantly influence the effectiveness of our educational systems, healthcare delivery, financial systems, governance, institutional frameworks, and indeed, the pursuit of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs)”.
Her lecture, which was structured into key sections that reflect both the theoretical and practical dimensions of assessment for decision-making, explored Assessment in Perspective, drawing from classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory ( IRT) to underscore their implications for policy and sustainable development.
According to Akanwa ” Assessment is not an end in itself , but a means to learning, to equity, to justice, and to development, and in its broadest sense, refers to the systematic process of gathering, interpreting and using information to make judgements about learners, programmes, institutions or policies”.
Arguing therefore, that assessment is the heartbeat of policy and decision-making , she posited that without it, sustainable development becomes a mirage.
” Without a credible assessment, policymakers cannot know whether reforms are effective, teachers cannot identify students’ strengths and weaknesses, giftedness and creativity in individuals may not be identified in order to harness them for guidance and development”, and that without it ( Assessment ) , society cannot measure progress toward development goals”.
Professor Akanwa therefore tasked Governments to adopt holistic and well balanced approach in policy and decisions making in line with current realities in order to engender sustainable development goal.
” Effective assessment for policy and decisions making are imperative and the key for socio economic growth, and sustainable development of every society. If Governments put in place evidence-based and achievable plans in policy assessment and decision making, the living standards of the people would be enhanced”.
She also made three recommendations namely; that, TETFUND and other funding agencies should prioritize research in assessment evaluation as a strategic area for national development, encourage universities to establish centers of excellence in educational measurement and evaluation that serve as think-tanks for evidence-based policy, and including provision of grants for innovative projects that integrate nutrition, ICT, and education outcomes similar to the iGarri project.
According to Professor Akanwa, investing in assessment innovation will pay dividends by strengthening human capital development and policy effectiveness.
Lauding professor Akanwa’s Lecture that had thousands of people from across various walks of life in attendance, including students, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, who presided over the session, described the lecture as educating, enriching, and enlightening on policy and decision making, and assessment.
He called for the collaboration of critical stakeholders in policy and decision making and assessment to ensure that policies are in accord with the demands of the 21st century, predicting that the lecture would impact/ guarantee successful decision making, foster transparency, accountability, policy formulation reforms, among the stakeholders, towards driving sustainable development goal.
WRITTEN BY GORDI UDEAJAH
