| 1. |
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is concerned about the poor achievement in Mathematics, Home Language and First Additional Language in the Western Cape in the 2014 Annual National Assessment (ANA) for Grade 9. |
| 2. |
The results for the province for the language of learning and teaching indicate that 48.7% of the learners attained an acceptable achievement level in their Home Language, while only 24.2% did so in their First Additional Language. For Mathematics only 6.2% of the learners in the province reached an acceptable level in the ANA. |
| 3. |
In order to improve these results an intervention plan is recommended for schools to follow. This plan is especially aimed at improving the Grade 9 ANA results in schools where the pass rate was below 20% in Mathematics and First Additional Language, or below 50% in the Home Language. |
| 4. |
The intervention entails the following: |
| 4.1 |
A programme of action listing high priority areas to be taught in these Subjects together with pace setters for Languages and Mathematics; and |
| 4.2 |
A common examination in June for these subjects. |
| 5. |
Schools are therefore requested to note the high priority areas (Annexure B) that must be targeted for Grades 8 and 9 in the above-mentioned subjects in order to address the problems that learners experience during assessments and in particular with the ANA. |
| 6. |
Annexure B provides teachers with high priority areas to focus on from Term 2. |
| 7. |
The common examination papers and memoranda for Mathematics, Home Language and First Additional Language will be set by a team of specialists comprising subject advisers and teachers. The examination papers will be based on the CAPS requirements and will focus in particular on the high priority areas listed in the programme of action attached. The purpose of these examination papers is:
- to standardise the assessment practice;
- to provide teachers with a reliable examination mark for June;
- to prepare Grade 9 learners for the ANA testing in Term 3;
- to improve the poor performance in the above-mentioned subjects;
- to establish a database to track learners achieving above 50% in the ANA.
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| 8. |
Whilst the writing of the common examination papers for Grades 8 and 9 is open to all schools, schools achieving below the benchmark set in point 3 above will be required to take part in this project. |
| 9. |
These schools are requested to complete Annexure A and fax or e-mail it back to the GET Co-ordinator of their district by 04 May 2015. |
| 10. |
The examination papers will be placed on the Moodle website of the WCED and will be sent on CD to district offices by 25 May 2015. Participating schools will write the different question papers on the following days:
Languages (HL and FAL) common examination papers on 3 and 5 June 2015:
| 10 Jun |
Gr 9 |
Paper 2 |
Comprehension and language use |
2 h |
| Gr 8 |
Paper 2 |
Comprehension, language use & literature
Schools should set Gr 8 literature questions internally |
2 h |
| |
| 12 Jun |
Gr 9 |
Paper 3 |
Writing: Essay & transactional writing |
1 h |
| Gr 8 |
Paper 3 |
Writing: Essay & transactional writing |
1 h |
| Note 1: Gr 8 & 9 |
Paper 1 - Oral marks are to be assessed by the school during Terms 1 and 2 |
| Note 2: Gr 9 |
Paper 4 - Schools should set their own paper to assess the different literature genres which have been taught during Terms 1 and 2. |
Mathematics common examination papers on 8 and 10 June 2015:
| 11 Jun |
Gr 8 & 9 Paper 1 Number, Algebra |
1½ h |
| |
| 17 Jun |
Gr 8 & 9 Paper 2 Shape & Space, Measurement & Gr 8 Data |
1½ h |
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| 11. |
Once the results have been analysed teachers are encouraged to support learners in terms of the gaps identified. ANA questions must be incorporated into the teaching, learning and assessment process during the year. They should not feature as a stand-alone activity. |
| 12. |
Principals are requested to bring this minute to the attention of all Senior Phase Language and Mathematics teachers. |
SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2015:04:24
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