Latest articles on Annual National Assessments

Poor children ‘doomed’ in early grades

Article Staff Reporter - 20 May 2016

The gap between haves and have-nots is already set in stone for life in primary school, a study says.

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Teacher unions to block members invigilating assessments

Article Staff Reporter - 21 Sep 2015

Five teacher unions have declared they will prevent their members from invigilating the Annual National Assessments until reforms are implemented.

Sadtu: Boycott national assessments in schools

Article Staff Reporter - 2 Sep 2015

The teachers union has encouraged its members to boycott invigilation of the Annual National Assessments in protest against the education department.

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Letters to the editor: April 30 to May 7 2015

Article Staff Reporter - 29 Apr 2015

Readers write in about Steve Biko, statues, Zuma, headlines and Islamic scholars.

Beware the tyrannies of the ANAs

Article Staff Reporter - 23 Apr 2015

The Annual National Assessments must not detract from the quality or breadth of education, writes Caroline Long.

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Leaked report reveals rampant cronyism in teacher hiring

Article Staff Reporter - 15 Apr 2015

A damning report held back from the public highlights the extent of cronyism and the influence of unions in filling education positions.

Assessment results don’t add up

Article Staff Reporter - 12 Dec 2014

The annual literacy and numeracy results don’t justify claims about improvements or declines.

Grade nine maths average slips badly in 2014

Article Staff Reporter - 4 Dec 2014

The head of the professional teachers’ organisation says it is time to take a hard look at educators’ content knowledge and methodology.

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The flaws of national assessments

Article Staff Reporter - 19 Sep 2014

The ANAs are a waste of time - they must be standardised in form, content and appraisal - argues a teacher.

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Don’t be afraid of assessments at school

Article Barbara Dale Jones - 14 Mar 2014

They are a source of useful information that can help to make teaching better.

No ANA ‘mess’: they’re a success

Article Staff Reporter - 17 Jan 2014

Literacy and numeracy tests provide valuable insights into pupils' performance.

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Assessment results don’t make sense

Analysis Staff Reporter - 5 Dec 2013

Annual literacy and numeracy tests for grades one, six and nine aren't comparable over time or across grades, so talk of improvement is misleading.

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Critics slap down Motshekga’s confidence over ANAs

Article David Macfarlane - 5 Dec 2013

Educationists have cast serious doubt over Angie Motshekga's conclusion about the 2013 annual national assessments of numeracy and literacy.

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Improved annual national assessment results impossible, say academics

Article Staff Reporter - 7 Dec 2012

"If these results were true, it would mean we have improved more in a single year than Colombia did in 12 years from 1995 to 2007," experts said.

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Vast improvements in pupils’ national test results ‘not possible’

Article Staff Reporter - 7 Dec 2012

If the annual national assessments are to be believed, SA has the fastest developing education system in the world - a highly unlikely conclusion.

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