The annual national assessments (ANA), postponed in September due to a dispute with unions, will begin today.
A circular signed by Department of Basic Education (DBE) director-general Matanzima Mweli yesterday confirmed the tests are back on track.
The signed circular was dated November 24.
DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga had referred the newspaper to the website after enquiring about the status of ANA following ongoing discussions with teacher unions.
However, the circular stated: “The writing of ANA 2015 will take place from November 26 to December 4, at a time that is convenient to schools.
“The school must determine the timetable for the writing of these tests.”
ANA is meant to assess pupils in languages and mathematics in Grades 1 to 9. It is a tool used by the department to monitor and track the performance of pupils and diagnose their areas of weaknesses.
Mweli, in the circular, said provincial education departments must issue a circular to schools confirming the date on which the test will be available for collection from the districts, circuits or nodal points.
“A record should be kept of all schools that collect the tests.”
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) provincial administrator, Chris Mdingi, said the union would never back down to whatever the minister and her officials were doing.
“As the organisation we are saying ‘no’ that ANA in its current form ever will be administered by our members in 2015.
“We vow that anyone who threatens in any manner must rest assured that we shall stop at nothing in fighting him/her in relation to his matter.
“Our members can never be made to clean up a mess made elsewhere due to poor planning and lack of vision.
“Moreover, when provoked we shall fight till the end of time even if it means a standstill in the department.”
Yesterday, provincial authorities seemed to be scrambling for answers when asked if the department was prepared.
They did not respond to questions by the Dispatch at time of writing yesterday.
Schools in and around East London yesterday refused to comment while others were reluctant, saying it was a controversial issue.
Alphendale Senior Secondary School principal Clive Prince said: “We are completely not ready for this. We are not prepared at all because we are now busy with internal exams. In any case we understand that there is a deadlock between unions and the department of education on this issue.”
Aqua Vista principal Victor Schmidlin said: “This is ridiculous. How can they expect us at this time of the year to start with ANA?
“At this point our children are writing exams. After they finish their parents will take them for holidays.”
Ana set to get under way amid uncertainty
A circular signed by Department of Basic Education (DBE) director-general Matanzima Mweli yesterday confirmed the tests are back on track.
The signed circular was dated November 24.
DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga had referred the newspaper to the website after enquiring about the status of ANA following ongoing discussions with teacher unions.
However, the circular stated: “The writing of ANA 2015 will take place from November 26 to December 4, at a time that is convenient to schools.
“The school must determine the timetable for the writing of these tests.”
ANA is meant to assess pupils in languages and mathematics in Grades 1 to 9. It is a tool used by the department to monitor and track the performance of pupils and diagnose their areas of weaknesses.
Mweli, in the circular, said provincial education departments must issue a circular to schools confirming the date on which the test will be available for collection from the districts, circuits or nodal points.
“A record should be kept of all schools that collect the tests.”
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) provincial administrator, Chris Mdingi, said the union would never back down to whatever the minister and her officials were doing.
“As the organisation we are saying ‘no’ that ANA in its current form ever will be administered by our members in 2015.
“We vow that anyone who threatens in any manner must rest assured that we shall stop at nothing in fighting him/her in relation to his matter.
“Our members can never be made to clean up a mess made elsewhere due to poor planning and lack of vision.
“Moreover, when provoked we shall fight till the end of time even if it means a standstill in the department.”
Yesterday, provincial authorities seemed to be scrambling for answers when asked if the department was prepared.
They did not respond to questions by the Dispatch at time of writing yesterday.
Schools in and around East London yesterday refused to comment while others were reluctant, saying it was a controversial issue.
Alphendale Senior Secondary School principal Clive Prince said: “We are completely not ready for this. We are not prepared at all because we are now busy with internal exams. In any case we understand that there is a deadlock between unions and the department of education on this issue.”
Aqua Vista principal Victor Schmidlin said: “This is ridiculous. How can they expect us at this time of the year to start with ANA?
“At this point our children are writing exams. After they finish their parents will take them for holidays.”
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