| 1.1 |
The National Policy on Assessment and Qualifications for schools in the GET band (Government Gazette No 29626 of 2007) provides requirements for progression for Grades 1 - 8, and promotion in Grade 9. Although the progression conditions are spelt out for Grades R - 8, clear levels of attainment have not been included in the Gazette. |
| 1.2 |
The policy has been reviewed in order to include specific progression and promotion requirements in Grades 1 - 9, which were approved by the Council of Education Ministers on 17 November 2008. |
| 1.3 |
The Western Cape Education Department has received the revised progression and promotion requirements from the Department of Education, in a document dated 1 April 2009. |
| 1.4 |
The new promotion and progression requirements are explained below. |
| 2. |
Progression in the Foundation Phase: (Grades 1 - 3)
(Rating Scale 1 - 4)At least a rating code of 3 for the Literacy (Home Language or language of learning and teaching) and at least a rating code of 3 for the Numeracy learning programmes
| Rating Code |
Description of Competence |
| 4 |
Meritorious to outstanding achievement
(All aspects of all assessment standards achieved) |
| 3 |
Adequate to substantial achievement
(Key aspects of all assessment standards achieved) |
| 2 |
Moderate to adequate achievement
(At least half of the assessment standards achieved) |
| 1 |
Not achieved to elementary achievement
(A negligible number of assessment standards achieved) |
|
| 3. |
Progression in the Intermediate Phase: (Grades 4 - 6)
(Rating Scale 1 - 4)At least a rating code of 3 for any three learning areas, one of which must be either the Home Language or the language of learning and teaching, AND at least a rating code of 2 for any three of the remaining learning areas, one of which must be Mathematics
| Rating Code |
Description of Competence |
% |
| 4 |
Meritorious to outstanding achievement
(All aspects of all assessment standards achieved) |
70 - 100 |
| 3 |
Adequate to substantial achievement
(Key aspects of all assessment standards achieved) |
50 - 69 |
| 2 |
Moderate to adequate achievement
(At least half of the assessment standards achieved) |
35 - 49 |
| 1 |
Not achieved to elementary achievement
(A negligible number of assessment standards achieved) |
0 - 34 |
|
| 4. |
Senior Phase: Progression in Grades 7 and 8 and Promotion in Grade 9
(Rating Scale 1 - 7)At least a rating code of 4 for any three learning areas, one of which must be Home Language or the language of learning and teaching, AND at least a rating code of 3 for any three of the remaining learning areas, one of which must be Mathematics
| Rating |
Description of Competence |
% |
| 7 |
Outstanding achievement |
All aspects of all assessment standards attained |
80 - 100 |
| 6 |
Meritorious achievement |
Almost all aspects of all assessment standards attained |
70 - 79 |
| 5 |
Substantial achievement |
Key aspects of all assessment standards achieved |
60 - 69 |
| 4 |
Adequate achievement |
Key aspects of most assessment standards achieved |
50 - 59 |
| 3 |
Moderate achievement |
At least half the assessment standards achieved |
40 - 49 |
| 2 |
Elementary achievement |
A negligible number of assessment standards achieved |
30 - 39 |
| 1 |
Not achieved |
No achievement |
0 - 29 |
|
| 5. |
The new progression and promotion requirements aim to strengthen assessment in the GET band. These requirements will ensure that clear achievable targets of competence are spelt out in the assessment of learners so that both teachers and learners aim to meet the same targets. They will ensure that learner performance is standardised across the different learning contexts across all provinces. |
| 6. |
Teachers must use these requirements to make judgements on whether learners have met the curriculum requirements at the end of a grade. |
| 7. |
The above-mentioned promotion requirements are effective as from 2009. |
| 8. |
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is aware of the importance of planning ahead and would have preferred if these new requirements had been introduced to schools at the beginning of 2009. As all the other provinces are, however, implementing the new progression and promotion requirements, it is incumbent on the WCED also to implement the new requirements. |
| 9. |
Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all educators, parents and all concerned. |
SIGNED: T SINGH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:05:22
|