Basic Education Portfolio Committee State of Readiness

1
Basic Education Portfolio Committee State of
Readiness 2012 NSC examinations (47 days to
go) 4 September 2012
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Presentation Outline

• Introduction
• Organising Framework
• Scope and Size of the 2012 NSC examinations.
• Monitoring Approach
• Target Success Indicators
• Progress - Examination Cycle
• Progress Chart
• Learner Improvement
• Conclusion

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Introduction

• (a) NSC examinations has matured over the last
  few years and its strength lies in
• sound legislative framework.
• strict compliance
• strong national and provincial collaboration.
• examinations culture
• nationally set question papers
• (b) Concept of the national examination system
  not achieved in totality.
• (c) Continuous review and improvement of policy,
  processes and systems.

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The Examination Cycle
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Organising FrameworkINPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT model

FEEDBACK

• PROCESS
• Standard setting
• Designing
• Administration
• Standardisation
• Marking
• Quality Assurance

• OUTPUT
• Results
• Certification
• Measurement

• INPUT
• Policies
• Resources
• Plans
• Assessment Tasks
• Support/Development

NORMS AND STANDARDS
INDICATORS
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Micro Framework
Inputs Process Output Outcome
Policy Directives PEDs Final Assessment Result Learner Performance
Competent Educators National Subjects Committees Systemic Improvement
Resources Monitoring system
Assessment Tasks Moderation system
Assessment support
Competent monitors
Competent moderators

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Scope and Size of 2012 NSC Exams

• Candidates 623 897
• Question Papers 264
• Printed Question Papers 7.8 million
• Scripts 7.4 million
• Examination Centres 6570
• Invigilators 65 000
• Markers 35 000
• Marking Centres 123

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NSC Full-Time Enrolments 2008 - 2012
Province Entered 2008 Entered 2009 Entered 2010 Entered 2011 Entered 2012
Eastern Cape 63 043 70 622 68 294 68 174 69 199
Free State 36 377 30 462 28 448 26 510 24 760
Gauteng 110 707 101 268 94 642 87 631 91 475
KwaZulu-Natal 152 194 139 965 130 302 127 053 132 272
Limpopo 90 724 93 289 95 869 74 669 78 182
Mpumalanga 57 145 55 735 54 542 49 592 48 989
North West 34 702 31 395 29 601 25 931 27 575
Northern Cape 10 691 10 765 10 406 10 426 9 281
Western Cape 45 408 46 862 47 062 41 273 45 602
National 600 991 580 363 559 166 511 259 527 335
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NSC Full-Time Enrolments 2008 to 2012
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NSC Part-Time Enrolment 2009 - 2012
Province Entered 2009 Entered 2010 Entered 2011 Entered 2012
Eastern Cape 3 516 11 323 16 457 18 664
Free State 919 2 068 2 583 3 354
Gauteng 8 278 23 518 35 490 36 849
KwaZulu-Natal 12 577 20 626 24 750 24 602
Limpopo 7 834 9 909 12 778 14 584
Mpumalanga 2 989 5 088 6 464 7 349
North West 1 029 2 708 3 131 3 434
Northern Cape 494 1 381 1 691 2 139
Western Cape 1 715 6 214 9 294 9 377
National 39 351 82 835 112 638 120 352
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NSC Part-Time Enrolments 2009 - 2012
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NSC Enrolments for 2011 and 2012
Province 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 Difference FT 2012-2011
Province Full Time Part time Total Full Time Part time Total Difference FT 2012-2011
Eastern Cape 68 174 16 457 84 631 69 199 18 664 87 863 1 025
Free State 26 510 2 583 29 093 24 760 3 354 28 114 -1 750
Gauteng 87 631 35 490 123 121 91 475 36 849 128 324 3 844
KwaZulu Natal 127 053 24 750 151 803 132 272 24 602 156 874 5 219
Limpopo 74 669 12 778 87 447 78 182 14 584 92 766 3 513
Mpumalanga 49 592 6 464 56 056 48 989 7 349 56 338 -603
North West 25 931 3 131 29 062 27 575 3 434 31 009 1 644
Northern Cape 10 426 1 691 12 117 9 281 2 139 11 420 -1 145
Western Cape 41 273 9 294 50 567 45 602 9 377 54 979 4 329
Total 511 259 112 638 623 897 527 335 120 352 647 687 16 076
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NSC Full-Time Subject Enrolments 2008 - 2012
Subject Entered 2008 Entered 2009 Entered 2010 Entered 2011 Entered 2012
Accounting 187 994 177 757 165 522 140 849 137 527
Afrikaans First Additional Language 83 891 81 673 78 502 69 287 76 797
Agricultural Sciences 89 701 92 124 88 075 79 680 79 828
Business Studies 218 391 211 167 206 625 191 850 199 377
Economics 165 622 157 147 151 911 136 652 137 524
English First Additional Language 503 089 482 144 462 959 424 346 430 521
Geography 225 866 219 425 215 815 203 805 217 875
History 99 674 92 453 90 595 88 290 96 481
Life Sciences 314 025 304 469 292 865 270 540 283 611
Mathematical Literacy 283 706 284 174 288 370 281 613 297 074
Mathematics 317 270 296 164 270 598 229 371 230 194
Physical Sciences 229 934 224 902 210 168 184 052 182 083
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NSC Mathematics Full-Time Enrolments
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NSC Mathematical Literacy Full-Time Enrolments
16
NSC Physical Sciences Full-Time Enrolments
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Monitoring Approach

• Broader mandate of building a national
  examination and assessment system
• Support visit conducted in April/May 2012.
• Self-evaluation instrument preceded the on-site
  visit.
• Ongoing engagement with PEDs through meetings,
  teleconferences, regular reporting.
• State of Readiness visit in August 2012.

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Target Success Indicators

• High quality question papers are set and
  moderated
• Examination centre and candidates are accurately
  registered on the examination computer system.
• Question papers are accurately printed.
• Question papers are distributed on time to all
  schools and candidates and strict security
  measures adhered to in the distribution process

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Target Success Indicators

• e) All candidates including learners with
  special needs are accommodated in the
  examination.
• Examinations are conducted under controlled
  conditions across all examination centres..
• Answer scripts accurately marked and moderated.
• h) All examination marks are accurately captured
  on the examination computer system.

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Target Success Indicators

• SBA is completed in accordance with policy
  prescripts and moderated.
• All examination and SBA marks are accurately
  captured.
• All examination irregularities are appropriately
  managed.
• All candidates are accurately and timeously
  resulted.
• Effective feedback provided to schools.
• All eligible candidates receive certificates.

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Registration of Candidates/Centres

• All candidates have been registered on the
  Examination Computer System .
• Two schedule of entries have been sent to all
  schools to verify accuracy of registration of all
  candidates.
• Subject changes, immigrant candidates and special
  concessions have been appropriately managed
• Registration data has been audited by the DBE.
• Mark sheet printing commenced on 31 August 2012.
• Letters of admission to the examination will be
  sent to schools by 15 September 2012.
• All enhancements on the examination computer
  system have been completed.
• A complete dry run on the system will be
  completed by 30 September 2012. Dry run done in
  conjunction with Umalusi

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Registration of Candidates/Centres

• All independent centres have been evaluated to
  ensure that they satisfy the criteria for
  registration.
• In cases where there is doubt about the integrity
  of the centre, the examination will be
  administered by the PED at these centres, or will
  be closely monitored.
• Candidates that would have written the ERCO
  examination have been registered as private.

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Question Papers

• All question papers are set by the Department of
  Basic Education to ensure a national standard.
• 264 question papers have been set by panels of
  examiners and moderated by subject specialists.
• The question papers are moderated and approved
  by Umalusi to ensure appropriate standard.

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Question Papers

• Improvement Initiatives
• Reviewed the examining panels where there was
  evidence of capacity shortfalls.
• Trained examiners and moderators
• Results of intensive post test analysis results
  shared with examiners and moderators.
• Findings from international benchmarking shared
  with examiners and moderators and incorporated
  where necessary.

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Question Papers

• Improvement Initiatives
• Pre-writing of selected question papers
• Full implementation of the common assessment
  framework for languages
• Closer monitoring of the setting and moderation
  process
• Improved editing and translation of question
  papers

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Question Papers

• All question papers for November 2012 and March
  2013 examinations have been set and moderated
• Question papers have been approved by Umalusi,
  edited, quality assured and handed over to PEDS
  that are printing.
• Adaptation of the question papers for blind,
  partially sighted and deaf candidates is complete
• Brailing of the adapted papers for the blind is
  in progress

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Printing, Packing and Distribution

• Six of the PEDs have excellent in-house printing
  facilities. The remaining two PEDs utilise the
  services of GPW, SITA, and the last PED
  outsources printing to a reputable service
  provider.
• Printing and packing progressing according to
  plan.
• c) All PEDs have introduced pre-sealing of
  question papers to minimise human contact with
  the question papers and to improve the accuracy
  in packing.

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Printing, Packing and Distribution

• d) Storage facilities across all PEDs have been
  inspected and security has been improved at
  distribution points
• Question papers will be distributed to
  examination centres on the morning of the
  examination, except in the Western Cape. In the
  Northern Cape, only in schools that are far from
  the districts, will question papers be stored at
  schools.
• Western Cape will pilot daily distribution of
  question papers to schools in 2013.

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Writing of the examination

• Examination commences on 22 October 2012 and
  concludes on 28 November 2012.
• Invigilators who supervise the writing of exams
  are in the process of being trained across all
  PEDs.
• The principal is the Chief Invigilator, except in
  cases where he/she has a son or daughter writing
  Grade 12.
• Detailed regulations govern the conduct of exams
  and the managing of irregularities DBE has
  issued a Guideline document to assist this
  process.

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Writing of the examination

• All chief invigilators and invigilators are
  officially appointed for the duration of the
  examination and are made aware of the
  responsibility.
• e) The writing of the examinations will be
  monitored by DBE, PEDs and Umalusi.
• f) Schools with previous irregularities will be
  closely monitored.

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Collection of Answer Scripts

• Stricter control of Answer books introduced
  across all PEDs.
• All scripts to be returned to the district office
  the same day.
• c) Scripts to enjoy the same attention and
  security as the question paper.
• d) All scripts must be correctly labelled with
  centre number, subject and must be sealed at the
  school level.
• e) All scripts to be controlled and checked at
  each stage of the process.
• f) DBE has introduced norm times for the return
  of scripts between the different collection
  points.

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Marking

1. Marking centres have been established across all
   PEDs based on the prescripts contained in the
   Policy.
2. Markers have been appointed based on the PAM
   criteria and most PEDs have added learner
   performance as an additional criteria.
3. Competency test will be administered. Two dates
   made available for the competency test to be
   taken. Results will be used for placement purpose
   in 2012.
4. Training of markers is ongoing and specialised
   training sessions will be organised prior to the
   marking sessions.
5. National Marking Guideline discussions will be
   hosted in Pretoria for all subjects, to ensure
   standardisation of marking across all PEDs

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Marking

• f) Internal moderators to be appointed for each
  subject at each marking centre.
• DBE will appoint external moderators to evaluate
  the marking at each centre.
• Umalusi conducts centralised moderation of
  marking, while the marking is in progress.

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School Based Assessment (SBA)

• Moderation of SBA is ongoing at the school,
  district and provincial level.
• DBE conducted a focussed moderation of assessment
  tasks in selected districts across all PEDS, in
  July 2012.
• Second national moderation will be conducted in
  October 2012 and will evaluate the assessment
  tasks and the learner evidence.
• Provincial moderation to be completed by 31
  October 2012.
• d) All SBA marks will be captured by 18 November
  2012.

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School Based Assessment (SBA)

• e) Common Assessment Task developed by the DBE
  will be administered across PEDs, in Life
  Orientation, 7 September 2012.
• f) In addition to the Common Assessment Task, for
  LO, DBE provided an assessment guideline and
  assessment exemplars, to prepare learners for the
  Common Assessment Task.

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Processing and Release 2011

• Marking will be completed by 14 December across
  all PEDs.
• Mark Capture will be completed by 16 December
  2012
• A technical team will prepare proposals in
  respect of adjustments for the pre-standardization
  meeting 18 December 2012.
• Pre-standardization meetings will be held on 19
  20 December.
• Umalusi standardisation meeting to be held on 21
  December 2012.
• Results will be thoroughly checked by DBE, PEDs
  and Umalusi from 23 27 December.
• Umalusi approval meeting to be held on 27
  December 2012.
• Results will be released on 3 January 2013.

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Analysis and Feedback

• Detailed analysis of results per school, per
  district, per province, per subject will be made
  available.
• Qualitative analytical reports from chief
  markers/internal moderators will be consolidated
  for distribution to schools.
• Outcomes of the Umalusi standardisation meetings
  will be made available to curriculum specialists
  and examining panels.
• Workshops will be conducted with teachers and
  subject advisors.
• Under-performing schools will be brought to
  account and improvement plans will be designed.
• Curriculum specialists to develop subject
  improvement plans.

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Certification

• The issue of the certificate signifies the
  culmination of the examination cycle.
• The certificates for candidates that wrote the
  examination in 2011 was distributed to candidates
  at the end of July 2012.
• The 2012 certificates are scheduled to be
  released to candidates by end May 2013.

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Progress Chart

TARGET INDICATORS PROGRESS
1. High quality question papers are set and moderated
2. Examination centre and candidates are accurately registered on the examination computer system.
3. Question papers are accurately printed. In progress
4. Question papers are distributed on time to all schools and candidates and strict security measures adhered to in the distribution process
5. All candidates including learners with special needs are accommodated in the examination.
6. Examinations are conducted under controlled conditions across all examination centres.
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Progress Chart

TARGET INDICATORS PROGRESS
7. Answer scripts accurately marked and moderated.
8. All examination marks are accurately captured on the examination computer system.
9. SBA is completed in accordance with policy prescripts and moderated. In progress
10. All examination and SBA marks are accurately captured.
11. All examination irregularities are appropriately managed.
12. All candidates are accurately and timeously resulted.
13. Effective feedback provided to schools.
14. All eligible candidates receive certificates.
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Learner Improvement

• Teaching and Learning Current Interventions
• Teacher development programmes targeting teachers
  in under-performing schools.
• Development of support material Newspaper
  supplements, self- study guides, worksheets,
  exemplar papers, radio broadcast lessons.
• Subject support strategies subject workshops
  focusing on content gaps.
• Resource material on Thutong portal and DBE
  website.
• Dinaledi intervention for Maths and science

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Learner Improvement

• Teaching and Learning Current Interventions
• Focus on curriculum coverage Curriculum
  Coverage Monitoring tool.
• Teacher Accountability and Class Attendance.
• Diagnostic report on learner weaknesses emanating
  from the 2011 examinations, together with
  remedial measures.
• Examination Guidelines.
• Distribution of past year question papers with
  marking guidelines.

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Conclusion

• All PEDs are ready to administer the 2012 NSC
  examination.
• DBE will focus additional attention on the
  Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces
• The DBE will continue with its agenda of building
  a credible, national examination and assessment
  system.