The examining panel responsible for the setting of the Dramatic Arts question paper, together with the internal moderator appointed by the Department of Basic Education, the Umalusi moderation team, and representatives from the Provincial Education Departments, convened a meeting to discuss the question paper and the associated marking guideline on Wednesday, 27 November and Thursday, 28 November 2013.
The entire group of experts that convened at this meeting was provided with samples of scripts from across the provinces, which were marked to establish any disadvantage that learners may have suffered given the sensitivity of the question in the paper, relating to the brutal rape of the nine-month old baby Tshepang.
From the sample of scripts marked, there is no compelling evidence to confirm that learner responses from all provinces were adversely affected by the sensitivity of the question. However, the Department of Basic Education does concede that parts of the question may have been perceived negatively by some learners, depending on their personal backgrounds.
In light of this, the Department of Basic Education has submitted a formal request to the Quality Assurance Council (Umalusi) to consider a concession, where parts of the question that may have been perceived as offensive by some learners be excluded from the marking process and the marking guideline be adjusted to accommodate this concession.
Umalusi has granted approval and the marking process across the country in Dramatic Arts will be administered in accordance with this amendment.
Enquiries:
Elijah Mhlanga
Cell: 083 580 8275
Panyaza Lesufi
Cell: 072 148 9575
