| 1. |
Introduction
The management and conduct of school-based assessment is stipulated in the Regulations pertaining to the Conduct, Administration and Management of Assessment for the National Senior Certificate (Government Gazette No 31337, August 2008).
|
| 2. |
General requirements for school-based assessment
|
| 2.1 |
A school-based assessment (SBA) mark is a compulsory component of the final promotion mark for all candidates registered for the National Senior Certificate.
|
| 2.2 |
Every learner is expected to compile a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate performance in the school-based assessment. A separate portfolio is compiled in each subject and marks awarded to the learner constitute 25% of the final promotion mark.
|
| 2.3 |
In the case of Life Orientation, the final promotion mark is based on school-based assessment only.
|
| 2.4 |
Teachers are required to develop a formal programme of assessment for each subject and grade.
|
| 2.5 |
The composition of the SBA for all subjects is outlined in the respective Subject Assessment Guidelines.
|
| 3. |
Compilation of the SBA mark
|
| 3.1 |
The teacher's portfolio of assessment must be a complete record of assessment in the subject and must be maintained by the teacher for every subject taught in respect of the National Senior Certificate. These portfolios will be moderated at various levels (school, cluster, province and national) during the course of the year.
|
| 3.2 |
Failure by the teacher to maintain a portfolio of assessment and to administer all the assessment tasks as indicated in the Subject Assessment Guideline constitutes an act of misconduct and will be dealt with in terms of the Employment of Educators Act, Act 76 of 1998.
|
| 3.3 |
The absence of the SBA mark in any subject, without a valid reason, may result in the candidate registered for that particular subject, receiving an incomplete result.
|
| 3.4 |
In the event of a candidate not complying with the requirements of SBA, but a valid reason is provided, the following must be noted:
|
| 3.4.1 |
The candidate may be granted another opportunity to be assessed in the assigned task/s during the course of the year;
|
| 3.4.2 |
Where a candidate has an incomplete result the candidate must, within three calendar months after the release of the examination results, submit outstanding work or present himself or herself for school-based assessment;
|
| 3.4.3 |
The school principal must ensure that the assessment is credible;
|
| 3.4.4 |
The assessment tasks must be moderated at district level.
|
| 3.5 |
Valid reasons in this context include the following:
|
| 3.5.1 |
Illness, supported by a medical certificate, issued by a registered practitioner;
|
| 3.5.2 |
Humanitarian reasons, which include death of an immediate family member, supported by a death certificate;
|
| 3.5.3 |
The candidate appearing in a court hearing, which must be supported by written evidence;
|
| 3.5.4 |
Any other reason as may be accepted as valid by the Head: Education or his/her representative.
|
| 3.6 |
In the event of a candidate failing to comply with the SBA requirements of a particular subject, and where valid reasons are provided, the evidence of such valid reasons must be included with the evidence of learner performance for the supplementary opportunity.
|
| 4.1 |
In the case where a candidate is absent in an examination or did not complete the SBA with a valid reason, the code 999 should be recorded on the mark sheet and where a candidate is absent in an examination or did not complete the SBA without a valid reason, the code 444 should be recorded on the mark sheet.
|
| 4.2 |
Where the candidate was absent based on valid reasons, the outstanding assessment tasks must be submitted within the stipulated three-month period.
|
| 5. |
Shelf-life of CASS
The school-based assessment mark obtained by a repeat candidate in his/her National Senior Certificate examinations will be valid for a period of three years.
|
| 6. |
Conclusion
Principals are kindly requested to bring the contents of this minute to the attention of the relevant teachers, learners and parents.
|
SIGNED: T SINGH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:03:30
|