Why have annual national assessments?
This year’s Annual National Assessments (ANA), which are administered in literacy and numeracy to all learners in grades 1-6 and 9, have been postponed till December following opposition to their administration from teacher unions. How should we understand the value of these assessments, the reasons for the opposition from unions and how the assessments can be improved for the future?
Stephen Taylor
Opinion | 30 September 2015
“You are responsible for creating a historical sadness” - Archbishop
Nearly 2,000 people braved the cold and rain to join the Unite Against Corruption march to Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people participated in the main march in Pretoria. Smaller marches also took place in other cities, including Durban and Grahamstown.
GroundUp Staff
News | 30 September 2015
Pensioners march for R5,000 per month
Hundreds of pensioners marched from the Company’s Garden to Parliament on Tuesday to demand a “decent living wage” of R5,000 from the current R1,410 state pension.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 30 September 2015
Uneasy calm shattered in Masiphumelele
A temporary respite from violence in Masiphumelele ended today, as police and over a thousand residents clashed. Residents blocked the road to Kommetjie with burning tyres. Police used teargas, rubber bullets and arrests to disperse the protest.
Bernard Chiguvare, Masixole Feni & GroundUp staff
News | 29 September 2015
Getting the facts right on assessments
To test or not to test? That is not the question although it is the way the current row about basic education has largely been presented.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 29 September 2015
How can South Africa redesign its annual national assessments?
South Africa’s major teacher unions and the Department of Basic Education agree: standardized testing can be a useful tool to measure the progress and gaps in a country’s education. But they don't agree on the current format of the tests.
Sibusiso Tshabalala
News | 29 September 2015
Minister wants meeting to break ANA deadlock
Minister of Education, Angie Motshegka, will meet on Friday with stakeholder groups in a bid to resolve the deadlock over the annual national assessment tests (ANAs), scheduled for December.
Sibusiso Tshabalala
News | 29 September 2015
Bringing rugby to the Cape Flats
Controversy over the demographic composition of the Springbok team once again shows the need to invest in rugby in black schools. A non-profit organisation is trying to do just that.
Scott Sloan
News | 28 September 2015
We shouldn’t have to apply to protest, say activists
Right2Know campaign members and other civil organisation leaders held a picket outside the Civic Centre today calling for the City of Cape Town to respect their right to protest.
Barbara Maregele
News | 28 September 2015