SACMEQ IV Report reveals serious decline in teacher performance

13 September 2016

Today, the Basic Education Portfolio Committee discussed the not-yet released 2013 Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ) report.

The data contained in the 2013 SACMEQ IV report is deeply concerning.

The presentation on the report tabled before the Committee reveals a serious decline in the quality of teaching in South African schools. 

In particular:

- For reading, the average score achieved by Grade 6 teachers dropped from a score of 758 in the 2007 study to 672 in the 2013 study.

- For mathematics, the average score achieved by Grade 6 teachers dropped from a score of 764 in the 2007 study to 757 in the 2013 study.

- Only 32.9% of Grade 6 teachers in the 2013 study demonstrated “critical reading” skills compared to 77.8% in the 2007 study.

- Of the 14 Southern and East African countries surveyed, South Africa was ranked 6th overall, behind countries with considerably smaller economies.

- 34.7% of Gr.6 learners are below the required level for reading.

- 54.6% of Gr. 6 learners are below the required level for mathematics. 

The data underscores the need to improve the quality of teaching in our schools. The DA will be calling for a full-scale review of teacher training and ongoing development of teachers.

Issued by Gavin Davis, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, 13 September 2016