A change in the way the Department of Basic Education's annual national assessments (ANAs) are done might be on the cards. Minister Angie Motshekga on Tuesday admitted there needed to be a change in the frequency of the assessments.She was speaking a few hours before she was due to meet teacher union‚ the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU)‚ which last week said it was boycotting this year's assessment."The things they are saying are things we have been saying. The Western Cape has issued a statement also to raise concerns about the frequency of ANAs. I [have] raised it myself‚ " said Motshekga.She was addressing the media during her visit to Masivuke Primary School in Philippi township on the Cape Flats to celebrate this year's International Literacy Day.Motshekga said her department now had an understanding of what the problems were and hinted that the assessments might now be carried out every two years.ANAs were introduced in 2010 as a diagnostic tool to assess numeracy and literacy for pupils between grades 1-9.This year's ANAs are due to be written from September 15-18.Last week‚ SADTU‚ which boasts 250000 members‚ said it would instruct all its members not to participate in this year's ANAs. The union argued that ANAs were reduced to an "onslaught on teachers with no intention to improve the system by ensuring fit for purpose intervention in the form of ongoing professional development for all in the system that was supposed to be part of the diagnosis".On Monday‚ Motshekga said R150-million was used annually by her department for ANAs and that if its frequency was changed‚ her department could dish out R10-million to each of the nine provinces to fix their problems."Initially we said it's a diagnostic [tool]‚ we have diagnosed. You can't go to the doctor everyday‚ if [you have been] diagnosed that you have diabetes‚ they put you on treatment and then you come and have assessments to see if you are improving‚" she said.But‚ although Motshekga said it was likely they would agree to change the frequency of the yearly assessments‚ she said it might take time to process an agreement on the issue.Also up for discussion with SADTU on Tuesday‚ is their opposition of the introduction of Mandarin in the country's schools."We are going to hear from them [what their problems are] because the way Mandarin is being introduced is like French‚” Motshekga said.“Is [their] problem an ideological problem that they have with China or is it a real problem? Mandarin is the 16th language we are introducing in the series of other languages."– The Times..