is because literacy assessment is the essential element of literacy program evaluation, which can provide direct, objective and quantitative data of program participants.
Therefore, from these characteristics and axioms of effective evaluation, some basic principles can be derived for developing a literacy assessment tool and its development
procedure for the adult literacy programs of Eastern Tamang people and other indigenous groups in Nepal.
3.1.1 Planning a literacy assessment as an integral part of a literacy program plan
Development of literacy assessment instruments and procedures should be planned as an integral part of an adult literacy program plan from the very beginning. It
should not be ignored or isolated from the program. According to the National Research Council 2001:54,
―educational assessment does not exist in isolation, but must be aligned with curriculum and instruction if it is to support learning.
‖ I often hear from both local and expatriate literacy practitioners that it is not easy to administer a test because
the act of being assessed or evaluated is met with fear or reluctance on the part of adult learners and their teachers as well. However, literacy assessment for adult basic
education, as well as other educational assessment, seeks to determine how well learners are learning and provides feedback to learners, teachers, learners
‘ families, policy makers, and the public about the effectiveness of educational services ibid.:1. Literacy
assessment is useful and beneficial for the following reasons Lien, 1976:118-119: • Tests may improve the instructional program. – Teachers can use data
from tests to improve materials, techniques, goals, and approaches when they plan the best instruction for their students.
• Tests may facilitate curriculum revision. – Having data on the ability and
achievement levels of learners will assist teachers and curriculum designers to plan the scope and sequence of teaching contents or subjects
with respect to the various levels of the learners. • Tests may assist in educational and vocational counseling. – Tests can
assist teachers in educational or vocational counseling. Tests may also assist learners in self-awareness and help learners match abilities and
achievement with job specifications. • Tests may help the administrative staff appraise the educational program.
– Tests, along with other data, can help the administrator evaluate how well the organization or school is reaching its educational objectives and
philosophy.
In addition to these reasons, it is worthy to note that testing can also give learners
a clearer idea of how far they have progressed in their mastery of literacy. Vella et al. 1998:19 pointed out that developing evaluation separately
– particularly as the program is ending
– is usually time-consuming and expensive because it will take additional time to plan and implement and will require spending part of a
limited budget. It is also true for developing a literacy assessment instrument for a literacy program. If it can be developed along with the curriculum and instructional
materials, the assessment development procedure may require much less time and effort to be consistent with what the program actually provides for the participants and the
ultimate goal of the literacy program.
3.1.2 Formulating and documenting critical decisions for an assessment plan
