Grade 9 pupils have continued to under-perform in the Annual National Assessments (ANA) exams.
The 2014 results, released by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga yesterday, show that nationally pupils in the intermediate phase only managed a 40% pass mark for maths and 50% for English.
The results further revealed that Grade 9 pupils achieved a dismal 10.8% for maths, 48.3% for home languages and 34.4% for first additional languages. Results for maths were 68.4% for Grade 1, Grade 2 at 61.8%, Grade 3 at 55.4%, Grade 4 at 37.3%, Grade 5 37.3% and Grade 6 43%.
Results for home languages revealed that Grade 1 pupils achieved 63.2%, Grade 2 61.1%, Grade 3 56.2%, Grade 4 56.5%, Grade 5 57.1% and Grade 6 62.7%.
The average performance for grades 4, 5 and 6 in first additional languages showed that Grade 4 pupils managed a 41% pass, Grade 5 pupils 46.7%, and Grade 6 pupils 45.4%. No provincial breakdown of figures was available.
The assessments are written by pupils in grades 1 to 6 and pupils in Grade 9, with the results used by the department to gauge the average numeracy and language skills of pupils across the country.
“It is evident from the outcomes of the ANA results of three years that we have made progress in certain areas while other areas need longer-term interventions,” Motshekga said.
“In the foundation phase targeted interventions by the department have helped to achieve the goals that were set in the Action Plan 2014 towards maths and home language.
“ In Grade 6 there has been a large increase in the percentage of learners achieving acceptable achievement levels for both mathematics and home language.
“In Grade 9 mathematics achievement is unacceptably low; however there was an increase in the percentage of learners reaching acceptable levels in home language.
“The evidence from ANA shows learners in grades 4 to 6 find it difficult to display the required problem-solving skills in the content areas of arithmetic, algebra, basic shapes and spatial relationships.”
East London-based educational expert Dr Ken Alston said the results revealed that education in the country was facing an absolute crisis.
“I think it’s either the exam papers are too difficult or there are schools where the kids are not being taught,” Alston said. “If the minister doesn’t see this as a red flag then I don’t know what is.” Alston recommended that issues such as high teacher absenteeism and lack of teacher training be addressed immediately.
National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa president Basil Manuel said the union was pleased with the foundation phase results. “This means that the interventions are working. The upward trend and the numbers show that the improvement is genuine and not manufactured,” he said.
Education portfolio committee chairwoman Koliswa Fihlane said foundation phase teachers needed to be applauded for the positive results while mother tongues needed to be considered for the senior phase.
“Perhaps if the pupils had been taught in their mother tongue then perhaps they could have grasped the concepts easier,” she said. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Grade 9 class scores poor maths marks
The 2014 results, released by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga yesterday, show that nationally pupils in the intermediate phase only managed a 40% pass mark for maths and 50% for English.
The results further revealed that Grade 9 pupils achieved a dismal 10.8% for maths, 48.3% for home languages and 34.4% for first additional languages. Results for maths were 68.4% for Grade 1, Grade 2 at 61.8%, Grade 3 at 55.4%, Grade 4 at 37.3%, Grade 5 37.3% and Grade 6 43%.
Results for home languages revealed that Grade 1 pupils achieved 63.2%, Grade 2 61.1%, Grade 3 56.2%, Grade 4 56.5%, Grade 5 57.1% and Grade 6 62.7%.
The average performance for grades 4, 5 and 6 in first additional languages showed that Grade 4 pupils managed a 41% pass, Grade 5 pupils 46.7%, and Grade 6 pupils 45.4%. No provincial breakdown of figures was available.
The assessments are written by pupils in grades 1 to 6 and pupils in Grade 9, with the results used by the department to gauge the average numeracy and language skills of pupils across the country.
“It is evident from the outcomes of the ANA results of three years that we have made progress in certain areas while other areas need longer-term interventions,” Motshekga said.
“In the foundation phase targeted interventions by the department have helped to achieve the goals that were set in the Action Plan 2014 towards maths and home language.
“ In Grade 6 there has been a large increase in the percentage of learners achieving acceptable achievement levels for both mathematics and home language.
“In Grade 9 mathematics achievement is unacceptably low; however there was an increase in the percentage of learners reaching acceptable levels in home language.
“The evidence from ANA shows learners in grades 4 to 6 find it difficult to display the required problem-solving skills in the content areas of arithmetic, algebra, basic shapes and spatial relationships.”
East London-based educational expert Dr Ken Alston said the results revealed that education in the country was facing an absolute crisis.
“I think it’s either the exam papers are too difficult or there are schools where the kids are not being taught,” Alston said. “If the minister doesn’t see this as a red flag then I don’t know what is.” Alston recommended that issues such as high teacher absenteeism and lack of teacher training be addressed immediately.
National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa president Basil Manuel said the union was pleased with the foundation phase results. “This means that the interventions are working. The upward trend and the numbers show that the improvement is genuine and not manufactured,” he said.
Education portfolio committee chairwoman Koliswa Fihlane said foundation phase teachers needed to be applauded for the positive results while mother tongues needed to be considered for the senior phase.
“Perhaps if the pupils had been taught in their mother tongue then perhaps they could have grasped the concepts easier,” she said. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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