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