Download - “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
