| 1. |
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has received the following documents from the national Department of Education:
- National Policy on Assessment and Qualifications for Schools in the General Education and Training Band
- Assessment Guidelines for Foundation Phase: Grades R to 3.
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| 2. |
These 2 documents are currently available only in English. They will be distributed by district offices during the first term 2008 to all schools with Foundation Phase classes, including community-based ECD sites which have WCED registered Grade R classes.
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| 3. |
The guidelines provide insight into how the assessment policy should be implemented in the Foundation Phase, taking into account the context of that phase, the needs of the learners and the nature of teaching and learning during these most formative years.
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| 4. |
Exemplars are provided for continuous assessment. They show how formal assessment tasks can be incorporated as part of planned daily teaching and learning, rather than being summative tasks that are additional to teaching and learning.
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| 5. |
School principals are requested to ensure that all Foundation Phase HODs familiarise themselves with both the above-mentioned policy and the guidelines so that they are in a position to assist teachers across the phase. Cluster meetings and/or staff development workshops should be arranged to facilitate this process and to share ideas for implementation.
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| 6. |
Further support will be offered by the district Foundation Phase curriculum advisers.
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SIGNED: G.R KOOPMAN
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:02:12
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