By More Matshediso
Pretoria - More than 6.8 million learners in Grades 1 to 6 and Grade 9 across South Africa started writing the third Annual National Assessments (ANA) on Tuesday, to determine their levels of competency in Literacy and Numeracy.
The Department of Basic Education said the tests will run until Friday, 19 September.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshega urged all parents to take an active interest in these tests and support their children in preparation and writing of the ANA.
“This is an important exercise that helps identify learning challenges and assists in planning appropriate interventions to improve Literacy and Numeracy,” Minister Motshekga said.
The Education Ministry said the tests are administered in all eleven official languages in the foundation phase, and in the two languages of teaching and learning in the Intermediate and Senior Phase.
“Necessary adaptations are effected for learners who experience various kinds of learning disabilities, to ensure that every learner has the opportunity to demonstrate what they can in the assessment,” the department said.
The department uses ANA as a measuring tool to annually record progress in learner achievement, towards achieving the 2014 target, of ensuring that at least 60% of learners achieve certain levels in Literacy and Numeracy.
“ANA targets Literacy and Numeracy because these have been found universally to be the key foundational skills for successful learning in school and beyond,” the department said.
The department announced that the first large-scale ANA was conducted in February 2011 and involved around 6 million learners in Grades 1-6.
It said more learners participated in the second assessment in September 2012 and saw the participation increasing to over 7 million learners, including Grade 9 learners from more than 20 000 mainstream and special schools.
“Learner scores in the tests have shown a significant improvement in Literacy and Numeracy achievement,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
