Validation of the SLC English Specification Grid 2006

Abstract

The research entitled "Validation of the SLC English Specification Grid 2006" is to validate the present specification grid of SLC English.In order to do so, the researcher collected data from the SLC sitterstudents of 2063, secondary English teacher from Tahanun district and education experts from various districts. The researcher also collected SLC English specification grid 1999 and 2006 to compare and analyze.The sample population consisted of 25 SLC sitter students and 25teachers teaching secondary English in different schools of Tanahundistrict. The students, teachers and experts were selected by using simplerandom sampling procedure. Three different sets of questionnaire were provided to the students, teachers and experts to gather their responses.The data were analyzed and interpreted aiming to validate the SLC English specification grid 2006 and its implementation in the midst of the academic session. The specification grids were analyzed in order to find out the differences between the mand their quality. The research findings show that the SLC English specification grid was made valid since it was implemented by the government. However,the students teachers and experts found it a hasty decision to impose the changed specification grid without analyzing the effects it would bring.The finding shows that majority of the students teachers and experts were fully dissatisfied to change the grid in the midst of the academic session.The present SLC English specification grid 2006 was found more unscientific and insufficient in comparison to the SLC English specification grid 1999. It has removed many essential grammatical items and some other aspects significant for language skills in the name of educational reform to increase the pass percentage of students. On the ix whole the present SLC English specification grid can not produce qualitative man power in English language field. The study consists of four chapters, which are given below, Chapter one deals with the introduction. It consists of general background of the study, review of the related literature, objectives of the study, significance of the study and definitions of the specific terms. Chapter two introduces the methodology adopted for the study. Itencompasses sources of data, population of the study, sampling procedure, tools for data collection, process of data collection and the limitations of the study. Chapter three consists of analysis and interpretation of the data which has been done under two main headings viz, Analysis of the SLC English specification grid 1999 and 2006, Analysis of the responses of the SLC sitter students, English teachers and education experts. The statistical tools such as, percentage along with different tables and figures were used while analyzing and interpreting the data. Chapter four incorporates findings and recommendations. On the basis of the analysis and interpretation, some significant findings and on the experience of the researcher while conducting the research some recommendations for pedagogical implications are made. This chapter is followed by references and appendices.