Abstract
Introduction: The License, Master, and Doctorate (LMD) reform which structured high studies in three cycles has been instituted since the Bologna declaration in 1999. To be conformed to international standards, the LMD system has been instituted in university of Lomé in 2009 to foster pathways between medical and paramedical training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the LMD reform since its introduction in medical school of Lomé.
Method: It was an opinion survey conducted in 4 months in University of Lomé among the medical school’s teachers about strengths and weaknesses of LMD reform since its application. The strengths were defined as all facilities brought by LMD reform in organization of courses and practices, evaluations, new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (internet, video projector, courses on line). The LMD weaknesses were defined as any problem generated by the LMD system.
Results: Of 113 resident teachers of the medical school of Lomé, seventy-six have completed the questionnaire (67.2%). The majority of teachers (74) thought that the introduction of LMD reform will make Lomé medical school fit into international standards. The availability of the video projectors was noted by 90.8% of the teachers and 82.9% of them used it for teaching. There was no online course. The main strengths of LMD were: a better evaluation system (33.3%), the organization of training in units with credit (28.6%), the usage of new ICTs (23.8%).
Many weaknesses of LMD reform were noted by teachers: the plethoric number of students (36.2%), the absence of an intermediate diploma and pathways between studies (29.3%). The Insufficiency of human resources and material was also mentioned.
Conclusion: This study highlights that LMD reform needs adaptation to local realities and improvement to ensure that students will get good training in conformity with international standards.