The Impact of Quality Assurance Officers' Activities on Teaching and Learning Process: A Focus on Selected Secondary Schools in Dodoma, Tanzania

Abstract

This study sought to assess the impact of quality assurance personnel's activities in improving teaching and learning process in secondary schools. Additionally, the study explored the kind of challenges hindering quality assurance officials' activities and possible strategies to be adopted as a strategy to navigate such challenges. To conduct this study, we employed a mixed research approach and a convergent parallel research design. Two hundred and seventy four respondents were involved in data collection. We collected data through open-ended questionnaires and in-depth individual interviews involving district education officers, heads of schools, quality assurance officials and teachers. To identify respondents, we employed both simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. The findings indicate that quality assurance officials' activities in secondary schools play a fundamental role in the teaching and learning which include improved teacher confidence, professional growth in terms of discipline and ethics of teaching, creativity and innovation, among others. The findings also indicate that quality assurance officials were facing a number of challenges which include; misconception of the purpose of quality assurance activities and shortage of resources. Based on these findings, we recommend government leaders and policy makers to take intentional action that will empower all those involved in quality assurance activities. They should also ascertain strategies of inculcating positive attitudes towards quality assurance activities. We also recommend quality assurance officials and school leaders to strive towards facilitating change in terms of approaches used in carrying out quality assurance activities. They should also seek to eradicate negative perceptions regarding the purpose of quality assurance activities. In conclusion, we argue that quality assurance officials' activities cannot be taken for granted, instead, they should be viewed as something indispensable and something without which quality education cannot be achieved easily.