SADTU is right: Annual National Assessments aren't working

06 October 2014

The Democratic Alliance agrees with the assertion made by the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) that the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga's Annual National Assessments are not working. 

We agree with the SADTU statement that these literacy and numeracy tests "cause learners and teachers to focus their efforts on maximizing test scores which result in teachers "teaching to the test"." ‎

We agree with SADTU that the annual national assessments are not being used as they should be - as a diagnostic tool, uncovering the precise areas of learning struggles, and as a platform for the development of strategies to address shortcomings.

We agree with SADTU that teachers and schools are being labelled as "underperforming" on the basis of the test results of their learners.

We agree with SADTU that (in most provinces, and other than the Western Cape), districts and provincial departments are unable to provide the support and interventions required to improve the results.

But that is where our agreement on this matter ends.

SADTU proposes a solution to the problems. Stop the testing. Do away with the Annual National Assessments.

These assessments are essential. They are providing the closest thing to the truth with respect to the state of education in South Africa. 

Last year, the matric pass rate was 78,2%. However, when learners in Grade 9 were assessed through the Annual National Assessments last year, it became clear that 37% were considered literate, and only 3% were considered numerate.

The solution to the problem starts with admitting a crisis, and then addressing every single aspect that contributes to the crisis. These aspects will include the teacher, the school, the district and the province, and must include, too, the national Department of Basic Education and of Higher Education and Training. 

There is no reason to engage in blaming and finger-pointing. But there is every reason to engage in identification of problem areas so that they can be fixed.

Ultimately, if we use these assessments appropriately, we must reach a point where we have a confident, capable teacher cohort, with teaching equating to learning in the classrooms.

It is essential that Minister Motshekga ignore the SADTU call to scrap the Annual National Assessments. It is also essential that she really hear the reasons that underpin the call, and act to address the concerns. 

Annual National Assessments have just been written across the country. The Minister must make the most of this year's opportunity. She must commit to doing everything it takes to ensure that every child capable of becoming literate and numerate indeed is granted the opportunity to achieve this. 

Statement issued by Annette Lovemore MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, October 6 2014

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