Students' Perception of Educational Environment of Medical Colleges in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Students' perceptions of their educational environment are a useful basis for modifying and improving the quality of educational environment. Educational environment is one of the most important factors determining the success of an effective curriculum. The quality of educational environment has been identified to be crucial for effective learning. Identifying the weakness of educational environment and understanding how students perceive the environment will help the institute to facilitate learning and to achieve better learning outcome.
Objective: To explore students' perceptions of their educational environment and to find out gender differences in perception.
Methods: It was a cross sectional descriptive study. Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was administered to 1903 medical students (studying in 3rd, 4th and 5th year MBBS course) in 15 medical colleges of Bangladesh adopting purposive sampling.
Results: The total mean score for all students was found positive (110/200). Students' perceptions of learning was positive (28/48), perceptions of teachers was moving in right direction (24/44), students academic self perception was positive (19.5/32). Students' perceptions of atmosphere was expressed as many issues need to change (24/48) and social self perceptions was not a nice place (14/28). Female students’ perceptions were significantly higher than male students.
Conclusion: Remedial measure should be needed in the subscales of students’ perceptions of atmosphere and social self perceptions for further improvement. Findings from this study may give guideline to curricular planner and faculties/administrators of medical college for further improvement of educational environment.

Key words: perception; educational environment; medical college  

DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i2.7060

BSMMU J 2010; 3(2): 97-102