NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION 2000

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPERS: 08/08/2013 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25/20 13)

Mrs AT Lovemorc (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

Whether all persons employed to mark National Senior Certificate examination papers in 2013 will be required to undergo a competency test; if not , why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) planned testing and (b) action(s) following the testing?        NW2356E

RESPONSE

Not all Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) will implement the competency test for markers in 2013, as initially planned. The policy relating to the administration of the competency test has not as yet been approved by the Minister due to the need for further consultation with one of the Teacher Unions that has opposed the writing of the competency test.

The policy was gazetted for public comment and emanating from the public comments, the major Teacher Union has opposed the administration of the competency test. The Minister will meet with the Teacher Union to address their concerns and thereafter the policy will be finalized.

However, given that most of the PEDs are at an advanced stage of appointing their markers for the 201 3 National Senior Certificate examination, the official implementation of the competency test will be scheduled for 2014. PEDs have been requested to pilot the writing of the competency tests, where possible, based on consultation with the provincial stakeholders.

Issued by Parliament, August 28 2013

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