Reviewing the Pitfalls Associated with Centralized Tracking of Students Learning Progress in Large Institutions of Higher Learning

Abstract

Incontrovertibly, student tracking and monitoring is a noble strategy to gauge milestones of educational endevours, especially in higher education where diverse students have to be supported. To this end, some institutions have resorted to the use of centralized tracking and monitoring of students’ progress in a bid to improve the individualized, targeted outreach and intervention by various professionals. However, the benefits of the centralized and multi-disciplinary approach are not visible, as many still drop out, take too long to complete their programs and show many signs of disengagement. This concern prompted conducting a desktop study to explore pitfalls associated with the delivery of centralised student tracking and monitoring programs in large poorly resourced, higher education settings, with the hope of coming up with possible solutions. The review noted that tracking in large institutions sometimes lack a comprehensive strategy with proper co-ordination and communication to support the diverse students. Specifically poor feedback loop make it difficult to obtain full acceptance by all staff, hence this cripples decision making and planning of alternative strategies. Perhaps tracking could be improved by improving goodwill among the different institutional leaders. Also improved funding of tracking and monitoring initiatives may curb resource shortages which sometimes retard the tracking process. It is especially important to improve the professional capacity of staff involved in intervention.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n11p139