WCED says test results have improved across grades

Standardised tests administered by the Western Cape Education Department show that learners’ maths and language skills have improved since 2011. Photo of learners in Mfuleni: Masixole Feni

The tests were introduced in the Western Cape in 2001. The department approached the Centre for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) in 2011 to update and evaluate the tests, in order to “remain credible and relevant” said Schäfer. The pass mark is 50%.

The grade 3 maths pass rate improved from 47.2% in 2011 to 56.2% in 2018.

The grade 6 pass rate increased from 23.4% in 2011 to 42.4% in 2018. The grade 9 pass rate increased from 10.4% in 2011 to 23% in 2018.

The department identified data handling, algebra and identifying shapes as areas with which students are struggling.

Grade 3 language results improved marginally, from 38.7% in 2011 to 45.4% in 2018. But grade 3 writing skills declined. (Percentages were not provided.)

Grade 6 language results went up from 40.9 % to 44%. The department said writing skills improved, but reasoning for answers decreased. Grade 9 learners’ language rose very slightly from 48.9% to 51.1%, with what Schäfer called a “steady improvement in writing, reasoning and structure”.

The department believes these tests are valuable for developing the education system by producing data from a variety of different levels, rather than only looking at matric results for the strengths and weaknesses of the system.

The National Department of Basic Education is piloting these systematic tests in 20% of schools in the other provinces.

This article was originally published on GroundUp.