SENEX_SUBMISION_CONVERT_EXAM_BASED_COURSES_TO_CONTINUOUS_ASSESSMENT_COURSES


SENEX_SUBMISION_CONVERT_EXAM_BASED_COURSES_TO_CONTINUOUS_ASSESSMENT_COURSES



1 Page 1

▲back to top


SUBMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Mr Morné du Toit
Chairperson: SENEX
Dr Andrew Niikondo
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic
30 April 2020
REQUESTING PERMISSION TO CONVERT EXAM-BASED COURSES TO CONTINUOUS
ASSESSMENT COURSES AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ASSESSMENTS FOR
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT COURSES
1. Recommendation
This submission recommends to SENEX to approve that:
a. exam-based courses are converted to continuous diversified assessment courses;
b. the number of assessments for both existing continuous assessment courses and converted exam-
based courses to continuous assessment courses be reduced from a minimum of four (4) assessments
as per current regulation to three (3) assessments to ensure a consistent and equal number of
assessments for all students; and
c. the maximum number of continuous assessments be restricted to only three (3) for courses without
any assessment administered by the time of the mid-term semester break to ensure successful and
timely completion for such courses within the approved Revised Academic Calendar.
2. Background
During meetings of the NUST COVID 19 Academic Committee held on Friday, 20 March 2020 and Wednesday
25 March 2020 respectively, thorough consultations took place with the subsequent recommendation to
move exam-based courses to continuous assessment courses. This was to avoid the coming together of many
students in the examination venue for writing their final exams and to secure additional teaching time as a
result of the lockdown. Through the Programme Development Unit (PDU), the Namibian Qualification
Authority (NQA) was consulted on this matter. The NQA advised NUST that it is to change exam-based courses
to continuous assessment courses since both types of assessments are stated as NUST assessment strategies
in the programme documentation in Section 14.2 submitted to the NQA. However, the NQA advised NUST to
take precautionary measures to avoid the quality of assessment from being compromised.
3. Motivation
It was expected that, because examination-based courses have a minimum of two assessments as per
AC4.5.1.2 DETERMINATION OF SEMESTER MARK (Yearbook 1: General Rules and Regulations) during the
semester with a final examination at the end, to keep the total number of assessments for such a converted
course still at three (3).
According to rule AC7.1 on PROMOTION REGULATIONS: CONTINUOUS AND DIVERSIFIED ASSESSMENT,
continuous assessment courses should have a minimum of four (4) assessments per semester. To keep the
1

2 Page 2

▲back to top


number of assessments uniformed for all courses offered during semester 1 of 2020, as well as keeping in
mind that the revised calendar has been approved with only 9 weeks of lecturing in mind, it was suggested to
have for all courses only a minimum/maximum of three (3) assessments to ensure successful completion of
learning and assessment through Remote Teaching Methodologies.
Rules AC7.1 further stipulates that: “To ensure authenticity of assessment evidence, at least 50% of the weight
of the assessments making up the final mark should be conducted under controlled conditions similar to those
under which institutional examinations are conducted. Should examination conditions not be appropriate for
the nature of the assessment, the lecturer and department must take appropriate and rigorous steps to ensure
such authenticity”.
As a result of COVID-19 restrictions and requirements to practice social distancing, the above part of Rule
AC7.1 will still be administered by Faculties to ensure the authenticity of assessments through appropriate
and rigorous steps and accordingly, allocate 50% of the weight thereof towards the allocation of the final
mark, instead of a mere average of the three (3) assessments.
4. Financial and staffing implications
None
AN/nn
2