“Outside looking in” The evaluation of the NSC in South Africa by UK NARIC Anne Oberholzer.

“Outside looking in”

The evaluation of the NSC in South Africa by UK NARIC

Anne Oberholzer

I am an African

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world – Nelson Mandela

Times are changing……………..

Structures and systems• Minister of Higher Education and Training

(anything that is not schooling) • Department of Higher Education and

Training oversees– South African Qualifications Authority – SAQA

– Council for Higher Education (CHE)– Quality Council for Trades and Occupations

(QCTO– Institutions – universities, universities of

technology, FET colleges and adult earning centres

Structures and systems cont. • Minister for Basic Education (Schooling)• Department of Basic Education • Umalusi (QA for basic and further

education)– Accredits examining authorities– External moderation of examination papers against

subject assessment guidelines of the examining authority

– External monitoring of examination systems and processes

Structures and processes cont• National Curriculum Statements

– describes national curriculum from Grade R to

Grade 12– National Senior Certificate: Grade 10 in 2006,

Grade 12 2008• Quality assurance by Umalusi - 3 assessment

authorities– State – national (+/- 600 000)– IEB - national (+/- 8 200) – ERCO - national (+/- 1000)

IEB as an examining authority• 1989 – took over examining function of

JMB; only non-racial examining authority until 1996

• Assess National Curriculum Standards within national structures and systems

• Serves independent schools – state schools must write state examinations

• Principle: power of assessment to

positively influence teaching

National Minister of Education – sets standards through the national curriculum and the NSC qualification

National Department of Education – subject assessment

guidelines (SAGs)

9 x provincial departments of education

Districts and +/- 6 500 Schools – state and

independent

Umalusi – Quality assurance and certification council

IEB - assessment body(SAGs)

ERCOExaminations Directorate

+/- 170 Independent

schools

Independent schools

<100

Lines of quality assurance

New National Senior CertificateSenior Certificate

• 1975 – 2007• 12 years• 6 subjects• 129 to choose from

• Differentiation – HG, SG

• University exemption

National Senior Certificate

• 2008 ff• 12 years (reception year)• 7 subjects - LO• 29 subjects to choose

from; 2 from 11 official languages – Home, FAL

• No differentiation• Category of passes

– NSC– NSC Higher Certificate– NSC Diploma study– NSC Degree study

New National Senior Certificate cont.

• Curriculum review in progress – fill gaps and reduce content where appropriate

• Step back from OBE as pedagogical approach – more assistance for teachers: resources and specificity of content

IEB Advanced Programmes

• Not part of NSC• Available to all schools• Mathematics – since 2008• English – piloting 2011• Development on Physics, Chemistry and

Critical Thinking – 2011• Piloting incrementally from 2011

Systemic issues• History – impact on resources, nature of

teaching • Diversity

– World class schools, teachers and learners– Highly-disadvantaged schools with

impoverished learners– Pass rates

• Language policy– 11 official languages– Mother-tongue education

UK NARIC evaluation of the NSC• In theory and in practice• Desktop and on-site visit• Findings

– A qualification with an underlying level that is both robust and fit for the purpose of examining secondary school levels – AS

– Advanced programmes: closer to A level– Variances in level from one subject to another– Peculiarity of Physical Sciences

Recommendations

• Consistency in demand across subjects• The need for a qualification at Gr 9/Gr 10

– recognition of achievement on a fundamental level

• Shortfall between NSC participation and pass rate – state, IEB

• Provision of well-qualified teachers across the system

Thank you

[email protected]

www.ieb.co.za