Before getting into details of how districts administered Annual National Assessment (ANA) on 18 September 2012, it may be useful to clarify some of the issues raised by critics in certain newspapers.
The first issue is about the distribution of question papers. The allegation is that the distribution of question papers was chaotic. The distribution used this year is exactly the same as that of the matric examinations. Principals were not given all papers to store in their schools for reasons of the integrity of the process. The reports from districts indicate that all schools received question papers. There were shortages here and there. This was resolved by using the additional papers which provincial examinations delivered to all districts before 17 September 2012.
All the twelve districts reported that all their school (those expected to write) wrote the assessments except for the independent schools that are not state funded and some special schools. It must also be noted that the primary school principals are not yet used to the nodal point system as this is used for the first time in their band.
The second allegation is that some schools wrote the papers after time. The province only knows schools that started a little late because of shortages. There were no reports of schools which wrote the paper after its duration time. In actual fact the writing of any assessments does allow for the late start where there were problems. The only thing is that late starts must be reported to provincial examinations.
There was a concern about the delivery of the question papers on the day of assessments. This year, unlike in 2011, papers are delivered on the date of the assessments. This is done to protect the integrity of the process. This happens in matric examinations. Each day principals fetch question papers and they are paid for kilometres travelled. This is a standard practice aiming at ensuring the integrity of the assessment process. It must be remembered that ANA must produce credible results so that interventions can be informed by a reliable resource.
There was an issue about Sisonke District and UMkhanyakude district. It is alleged that question papers arrived late. Question papers were already in district two weeks ago. I think the person who raised this issue did not know that question papers were delivered to districts two weeks before the commencement of ANA. This person also did not know that papers are brought closer to schools through nodal points.
The possibility of papers being delivered late is out of question. What is possible is a situation where the principal arrive late to collect the question papers. This did not happen in the two districts. The reports from the two districts indicate that all schools wrote the assessments and there were no hassles in the distribution of question papers and the administration of ANA.
There was an allegation that other grades did not write on 18 September 2012. Not all grades were supposed to write yesterday according to the time table. People who spoke to newspapers did not know that only grades 1, 2, 4 and 5 wrote yesterday. Today only grades 3, 6 and 9 are writing. It is not true that all grades were supposed to write yesterday. It is also not true that all schools were supposed to write yesterday. Schools with grade 9 are only writing the assessments today.
One must conclude by a word of clarity. People must understand that not all grades and schools write on the same day. The time table is designed to allow for easy management of assessments both at school and district level. We must also remember that some of the schools do not have adequate space for all learners at school to seat for the standardized tests one session.
The following district by district report clarifies the issues further:
1. Ilembe district
In Ilembe district all schools wrote ANA. The principal of Kholwane did not collect question papers. The district sent papers to the school and the examinationation stared in time. Tinley Manor and Dr B. Vilakazi started slightly late because the district had to top up as there were few shortages.
2. Othukela district
Out of all schools expected to write only one school (Okhombe Primary) did not write. This school was involved in the taxi accident where some of the learners passed on. The learners are still being treated for trauma after the accident.
3. Pinetown district
All schools that were supposed to write the assessments did write. There were shortages in three schools (Green Heights Primary, Nqolobane and Hillcrest Primary). These were addresses through the extras which were provided to the district before the administration date. The cause of shortages was the wrong statistics supplied by school principals.
4. Sisonke
All schools that were expected to write in this district administered the examination. Top up papers were issued where there were few shortages.
5. Ugu district
All schools wrote the assessments. Harding Special School received wrong question papers. The papers for special schools were packed by National Department of Basic Education.
6. Umzinyathi district
All schools that were supposed to write the assessments wrote yesterday. The district reported that there we no challenges experienced.
7. UMkhanyakude district
All schools wrote the assessments. Ten (10) grade 1 learners of Nkomi Primary School could not cross the flooding river. As a result they did not write the assessments.
8. Zululand
All schools received question papers and wrote the assessments. There were few packaging challenges which were resolved through top ups.
9. Umlazi district
All schools received question papers and wrote the assessments. Clairville Primary picked up papers late but they were able to start in time.
10. UThungulu district
All schools received question papers and wrote the assessments. There were few packaging challenges which were resolved through top ups.
11. Umgungundlovu
All schools received question papers and wrote the assessment. Where there were shortages the district was able to provide.
12. Amajuba
All schools that were expected to collect papers did so and conducted the assessments. Shortages were not reported.
Conclusion
This report captures some clarification regarding the administration of the annual assessments in KwaZulu-Natal. It also provides information obtained from the twelve districts.
Should there be new information about the administration of the ANA on 18 September; the Department of Education in the province will update the report since it is not our culture to underreport especially in this developing system that tries to improve the quality of education at lower levels of the system.
For more information please contact:
Muzi Mahlambi
Cell: 082 519 1420
Sihle Mlotshwa
Cell: 072 207 2018
Muntu Lukhozi
Cell: 082 562 5965
