1. According to the National Education Policy document, A Résumé of Instructional Programmes in Schools - Report 550 (2001/08), continuous assessment (CASS) must be a compulsory component of the promotion marks. Between 25% and 50% of the mark provided to parent(s)/guardian(s) each term and at the end of the year must be a CASS mark.
2. Because of the transitional nature of the Grade 10 curriculum following the outcomes-based approach of the curriculum in Grade 9, it is recommended that the promotion of Grade 10 learners from 2003 be based on 50% CASS and 50% final summative examination.
3. In preparation for the Senior Certificate examination, where the CASS component accounts for 25% and the summative examination for 75%, the promotion of Grade 11 learners must be based on the same ratio, i.e. 25% CASS, 75% final summative examination.
4. All assessment should be designed to

  • Contribute to an understanding of the learners’ knowledge and skills in the subject

  • Enable a teacher to judge whether knowledge and skills have been acquired

  • Enable a teacher to modify the teaching process, if necessary

  • Indicate the level of the learner’s ability in terms of skills

  • Provide the teacher with opportunities for feedback and revision.
5. Rubrics should be set for all assessment tasks. These rubrics should be made available to learners when an assessment task is set and should focus on subject knowledge, skills and conceptual grasp.
6. Evidence of continuous assessment used to calculate a learner’s CASS mark must be kept for purposes of moderation.
7. Teachers are expected to keep the instructions, assessment criteria and rubrics pertaining to the CASS work of learners in a file for purposes of moderation.


SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2003:05:14