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Article by Siphokazi Nonjobe
The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) will embark on a centralised provincial Continuous Assessment (CASS) moderation programme from the 23rd to 26th of October 2008.
The aim of the programme is to ensure that a valid, reliable and quality CASS marks for each learner is registered from all 23 Education Districts.
Since CASS contributes 25 percent to the overall final mark of the grade twelve learners, the provincial office opted to embark on this centralised moderation in addition to the quarterly moderations done at district levels. This programme is a joint project between Curriculum FET and Assessment and Exams.
This process is also informed by the Subject Assessment Guidelines of 2008 and is in line with the UMALUSI requirements for valid and reliable CASS marks through verifiable procedures and processes. To date, there are 32 subjects in the National Curriculum statement and it is compulsory that all learners taking any of the 32 subjects present a portfolio of their work accomplished over the year. Presenting a portfolio of evidence is primary prescripts of assessment tasks set out in the Subject Assessment Guidelines of 2008 as well as the Provincial CASS Guidelines.
However, only 14 subjects will be moderated during the Centralised Provincial CASS processes namely English (first Additional language), IsiXhosa (Home language), Life Orientation, Physical Science, Music, Computer Applied Technology (CAT), History, Geography, Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD), Business Studies, Consumer Studies and Mathematics.
Additionally, each School Management Team (SMT), principal and HOD of each senior secondary school offering any of the abovementioned 14 subjects must submit four portfolios for each subject offered. These include 1 teacher’s master portfolio and 3 learners’ portfolio (portfolios to represent the top, middle and bottom range of marks).
Principals are urged to make photo-copies of the learner’s portfolios and hand them over to the learners who will have these portfolios sent for moderation. This process is done to ensure that learners can prepare for the final examinations without being disadvantaged in any way.
Each principal, SMT and HOD must ensure that school based moderation has been satisfactory complete according to the prescripts of the Subject Assessment Guidelines of 2008 as well as the Provincial Cass Guidelines.
Additionally, this school based moderation is NOT an audit of portfolio and assessment tasks but a detailed re-marking, re-assessing and quality control of assessment tasks according to memoranda, rubics and checklists.
Article Tags: Assessment, moderation programme
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