SA pupils score 'F' for literacy, numeracy

A countrywide assessment of grade three and six pupils has revealed shockingly low levels of literacy and numeracy at schools.

According to the 2011 Annual National Assessment, released by Basic Education Minster Angie Motshekga in Pretoria on Tuesday, over half of the pupils are performing at a level “that indicates that they have clearly not achieved the competencies” specified in the curriculum.

Briefing journalists, Motshekga said the national average performance in literacy among grade three pupils was 35%. The numeracy performance was 28%.

“In grade 6, the national average performance in languages is 28%.

For mathematics, the average performance is 30%.”

The assessment was carried out in February this year. It involved more than six million pupils at schools around the country.—Sapa