Assessment of Learning in Health Sciences Education: MLT Case Study

Assessment in health sciences education has become an extremely critical issue in recent years, given the rapidlychanging disease patterns and behavioral changes in communities among diverse cultural and economic contexts ofpatients. Globally, there is increasing demand for highly qualified contemporary healthcare professionals.Subsequently, learner assessment regimes need to have the capacity to accurately evaluate the competences (i.e.attitudes, skills and knowhow) acquired during the training of healthcare professionals. This paper provides ananalysis of assessment of and for learning in health sciences education with a focus on clinical laboratory training atMLT in Uganda. This study utilized both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The program evaluationdesign principles were also utilized to measure the levels of compliance towards attainment of curriculum outcomes.The instruments used during data collection included checklists, questionnaires, indepth interviews, and focus groupdiscussions (FDGs). The findings of this study showed that learners were achieving the intended curriculumobjectives progressively. The assessment tools used were prepared through a rigorous process to ensure that the basicprinciples of assessment are identified and integrated during curriculum design and implementation. Results of thestudy also showed that adequate institutional administrative support available enhanced the teaching and learningprocesses and ensured that appropriate curriculum assessment schedules and strategies were strictly followed asstated in the elements of the curriculum structures.This contributed meaningfully in preparing competentcontemporary healthcare professionals (clinical laboratory technicians). It was recommended that all healthcareprofessional training institutions should take the use of aunthetic assessment of and for learning very seriously.