Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness of Lecturers in Universities in Nigeria: The 360-Degree Perspectives

Abstract

This paper contended among other issues that the current performance technique used to evaluate academic staff in universities in Nigeria is no longer effective in the face of the incompetence and ineptitude exhibited by lecturers in recent times.  For example, research outputs are almost non existent because most lecturers have no capacities to attract research grants to themselves and to their institutions to ‘produce’ knowledge, technology and innovation whereas, universities are the hub for these. Some collect money for marks and demand sexual gratifications from students; they do not engage in community service which is one aspects of lecturing job.  This research is carried out to evaluate lecturers in three universities using the 360-Degree Performance Evaluation Technique developed by Umukoro and Nwoko.   Consequently, 30 lecturers, 150 lecturers’ colleagues and 600 students were purposively selected from the universities.  In addition to evaluating selected lecturers’ on paper qualifications and publications they were also evaluated on dressing, temperament, punctuality, and regularity in going to classes to teach.  Their level of morality and disciple were also rated.  A self-evaluation questionnaire and two sets of closed-ended questionnaires were used for data collection. The instruments were validated using test and re-test method.  They were also subjected to reliability test which showed that all the questionnaire items were significant (P<0.05 at 5%) to the study. Research assistants/informants were recruited to distribute and retrieve questionnaires.  Data collected were analysed with descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 13.0).  The study findings amongst other things showed that the lecturers faired averagely in some of the variables evaluated and scored very poorly in other areas such in attracting research grants; conducting researches; and rendering community service.  It was recommended amongst others that the institution studied should make efforts to ensure that their lecturers are on top of the game in aspects of academic work.

Keywords: Evaluation, Performance evaluation, 360-Degree Evaluation Technique, Lecturers.

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-20-13

Publication date:October 31^st 2021