Assessment of teaching staff towards problem based learning curriculum at Mulago Medical School, Makerere University

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the Attitude of students and teaching staff at Mulago Medical School towards Problem Based Learning (PBL) Curriculum. The study particularly sought both the students and teaching staff’s attitudes in form of opinions and views on different issues concerning PBL.

The study was conducted through a cross sectional survey design, data being collected during the month of February 2008 using questionnaire and interview responses from 27 teaching staff and 141 students. The sample was randomly and purposively selected from the accessible population. Data was analysed using mean scores of stake holders with the positive and negative attitudes towards aspects of PBL.

The study revealed that at Makerere Medical School, students regardless of their year of study or sex and the staff of all the teaching departments had a positive attitude towards PBL as compared to the traditional content driven teaching. Considering the findings above, the researcher recommends the following; 1. There is a need to organize seminars for all the members of staff of the medical school to discuss the intricacies of PBL with a view of improving it. 2. There is a need to structure students’ assessment based on problems as per the tenets of PBL. 3. The government of Uganda should popularize PBL use to other teaching units of the university. Since it has been found to be supported by all stakeholders at Mulago Medical School, it should be applied in all units which are training human resources.