results
20 December 2006
The Chairman of Umalusi's Council, Professor John Volmink, announced today
that Umalusi, Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education
and Training, had approved the release of the 2006 Senior Certificate, ABET and
FET college results.
In his remarks, Professor Volmink said Umalusi had monitored all aspects of
the conduct of the examinations through a comprehensive and integrated
monitoring system. "This integrated system involved self-evaluation by
assessment bodies, verification by Umalusi, sampling of examination centres,
direct monitoring as well as shadowing. Umalusi ensured that examination
irregularities were managed strictly in accordance with the applicable policy
and regulations for the Senior Certificate Examination as well as Umalusi
policies, directives, guidelines and requirements. During the sitting of the
Senior Certificate Examinations, irregularities were reported to Umalusi on a
daily basis. Umalusi recorded, followed up and ensured a quick resolution of
the irregularities. After studying the relevant reports of all the examination
quality assurance processes and applying its mind to all of these, Umalusi
Council can pronounce that the standard of the examinations has been more than
adequate and therefore approves the release of the 2006 results."
Volmink said there were two types of irregularities reported to Umalusi and
that these were technical and serious irregularities. The technical
irregularities are those that arise out of administrative errors in the system.
The serious irregularities are those that threaten the credibility of the
examination. "A case in point here was the Geography Standard Grade Paper 1
saga. Initially, there was widespread alarm about an alleged leak linked to the
discovery of a small strip of this question paper that was discovered by a
motor mechanic in Sabie. After extensive investigations, conducted both by the
Department of Education and Umalusi, Umalusi is satisfied that there was no
evidence of a leak." He said Umalusi arrived at this decision after
considering:
* a full report from the Department of Education
* reports from Umalusi special monitoring teams in the Eastern Cape and
Mpumalanga during the writing of the paper in question
* reports from Umalusi special moderation teams from all marking centres across
the country
* reports from chief markers and internal moderators.
Volmink said Umalusi judged the quality and standard of the Senior
Certificate examination by determining the level of adherence to policy in
implementing examination related processes, the cognitive challenge of
examination question papers, the appropriateness and weighting of content in
question papers in relation to the syllabus, the quality of presentation of
examination question papers, the efficiency and effectiveness of systems,
processes and procedures for the monitoring of the conduct of the Senior
Certificate examination, the quality of marking, the quality and standard of
internal quality assurance processes within the assessment body as well as the
quality, consistency and fairness of the examination scores.
Marking was rigorously moderated by Umalusi moderators both through a
sampling procedure and direct moderation at the various marking centres. The
quality and standard of marking was found to be of the appropriate standard and
quality.
As a final quality assurance measure, Umalusi moderated and awarded final
marks to candidates. This was a very rigorous exercise that was carried out in
line with established principles and procedures. Throughout this process,
Umalusi ensured that the Senior Certificate consistently remains a quality
product from year to year.
The 2006 Senior Certificate Examination was written by a total of 742 289
candidates (both full-time and part-time), compared to 729 875 candidates that
wrote in 2005. This was a special group of candidates. These candidates started
schooling in 1995 in a newly democratic South Africa. They were also the first
group of learners to be exposed to the Outcomes-Based Education.
In 2006 Umalusi continued its efforts to raise the cognitive demand in the
Senior Certificate Examination question papers. While content coverage and
weighting and all the other aspects that make for a good examination question
paper are important, it is the cognitive challenge aspect that is key to
testing whether the prescribed outcomes have been met by candidates. Umalusi
moderators used reviewed criteria and a new moderation instruments to moderate
question papers. It was clear from both internal moderators' and chief markers'
reports that the challenge level in the 2006 question papers was of an improved
standard and that these question papers discriminated quite adequately between
high and low achievers.
In conclusion, regarding the 2006 examinations, we want the public to be
aware that the number of learners taking the senior certificate examination has
grown; the cognitive demand of question papers has increased; and the integrity
of the conduct of this examination has improved.
For further enquiries please contact:
Jabu Maphalala
Manager: Public Relations and Communications, Umalusi
Tel: (012) 349 1510 ext 208
Cell: 073 428 6942
Issued by: Umalusi
20 December 2006
