Abstract:
Background: One of the direct science field related to the public health is health science educational programs. However the quality of thus science fields has an impact on the quality of health related services. According to Ministry of Health, the health service is facing quality problem in recent years, which is assumed to be linked with the quality of education health professional pass through. The Ministry of health also believes, poor quality in educational environment is depicted more on the extension programs. Due to this, the ministry has ordered Higher Education Relevancy and Quality Agency to stop provision of health science educational programs in extension program at private colleges. However, is quality problem specific for the extension programs only? Therefore, the purpose of this research is to compare the regular and extension program from educational quality perspective. In this study the quality of education is assessed and compared by eight dimensions or areas of focuses identified by HERQA.
Objectives: To compare the quality of education in both regular and extension programs of private health science colleges.
Methods: Qualitative study design was used to collect information from forty-four participants using semi structured interview guide. The study was conducted in three selected private health science colleges in Addis Ababa. The researcher had used an in-depth interview and observation as data collection method. The data was taken using audio recorder and the data was transcribed and translated. The data was analyzed thematically using open code software.
Result: The findings of the study revealed that the colleges have used different means to have the same educational quality for both programs. However, the extension program has problems in relation to the regular program; these problems include a lower or complete absence in the utilization of library, laboratory and demonstration rooms, lack of commitment of part-time instructors, lack of consistent follow up by college governance and government stakeholders on the extension program.
Conclusion: On this study, we can conclude that colleges have significant quality problems in the extension program.
Recommendation: Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders need to assess the root cause of the situation, and improve and follow up the implementation of extension program.
...................................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library