NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2046

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10/08/2012

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER:  23/2012)

Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

Whether markers of the National Senior Certificate examination papers will be required to pass competency tests before being appointed to mark; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?    NW2526E

Reply:

Competency Tests will be written by markers in selected subjects, before their appointments are finalized for the marking of the 2012 National Senior Certificate examination. The competency test for markers were set and reviewed by the Department of Basic Education, which implies that all provinces will administer a common test, except in the case of the Western Cape that has already administered the competency tests.

Given that this is the first year of implementation, these tests will be piloted in seven subjects, namely, Accounting, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, History, Geography and English First Languages. The writing of the competency test will be phased in over the next three years as follows:

(a) 2012: 7 subjects

(b) 2013: 20 subjects

(c) 2014: 28 subjects

The competency test will be administered to markers that have been selected based on criteria that are articulated in current policy. The markers will be required to write at the district office under the supervision of the district officials. The test will be administered using a common timetable and all selected markers across provinces will be required to write.

Issued by Parliament, September 12 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter