DA calls for mandatory competency tests for Matric markers
The DA wishes all 801 688 Grade 12 learners well as they begin their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations today.
As always, the success or failure of these learners will be used as a barometer to determine how well our education system is performing and where interventions are needed most. It is therefore vital that we are able to accurately compare results of learners across different schools, social contexts and provincial education departments.
This exercise is very difficult in the present climate because there is no national standard to measure the competency of the 49 900 markers of the 258 NSC papers that will be written this year. The Western Cape is currently the only province that ensures matric exam makers are subject to competency tests before they are allowed to mark any papers.
Umalusi, the statutory body tasked with education quality assurance and certification, has previously expressed support for universal competency tests. Section 16(4)(d) of the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act is clear that Umalusi must assure the “quality of learner assessment at exit points.”