Assessments 'bad for kids'

27 November 2015 - 02:39 By Katharine Child

Teachers are refusing to administer the annual national assessments because, they say, they are flawed and have resulted in pupils being taught to pass them instead of the curriculum. The tests assess the literacy and numeracy of pupils in Grades 1-6 and Grade 9.The deputy president of teachers' union Naptosa, Anthea Ceresto, said yesterday that teaching time was being spent helping pupils to pass the test at the expense of a wide range of subjects.The tests were administered every year without support for teachers as they tried to eliminate pupils' weaknesses as revealed by the tests.She said the union had been trying to raise its concerns about the assessments with the Department of Basic Education for three years...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.