Learners impress with ANA results

The Annual National Assessment (ANA) results show that while there is still room for improvement, progress is being made in improving learners’ skills in literacy and numeracy in the lower grades

The revolutionary e-learning initiative was launched by the Department of Basic Education in partnership with Modern Information Business (MIB) recently.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga released the results recently at Mahlahle Primary School in Pretoria. The school achieved an average percentage of 69 per cent for mathematics in Grade 3 and 67 per cent for English (Home Language) in Grade 6.

“I am confident that performance in the education system is on an upward trend and all our interventions and programmes are beginning to produce the desired outcomes. Learner achievement in both language and mathematics in the Foundation Phase is largely of adequate quality and level,” said Minister Motshekga.

The 2013 assessments were conducted in Grades 1 to 6 and Grade 9 in September 2013 at all public and state-funded independent schools. Over seven million learners sat for the tests.

Results

• Grade 1 national average performance in literacy was 60 per cent. It was 58 per cent in 2012. In numeracy it was 60 per cent down from 68 per cent in 2012.
• Grade 2 national average performance in literacy was 57 per cent, compared to 55 per cent in 2012. In numeracy it was 59 per cent up from 57 per cent in 2012.
• Grade 3 national average performance in literacy stood at 51 per cent, compared to 52 per cent in 2012. In numeracy, learners performed at an average of 53 per cent, compared to 41 per cent in 2012.
• Grade 4 national average performance in language was 49 per cent for Home Language and 39 per cent for First Additional Language, compared to 43 per cent in Home Language and 34 per cent in First Additional Language in 2012.
• Grade 4 average for numeracy was 37 per cent, unchanged from 2012.
• Grade 5 average in language was 46 per cent for Home Language and 37 per cent for First Additional Language, compared to 40 per cent in Home Language and 30 per cent in First Additional Language in 2012. In numeracy, the national average performance was 33 per cent, up from 30 per cent in 2012.
• Grade 6 national average performance in language was 59 per cent in Home Language, compared to 43 per cent in 2012 and 46 per cent in First Additional Language, compared to 36 per cent in 2012. This was an improvement of 16 per cent in Home Language and 10 per cent in First Additional Language. For mathematics, the average performance was 39 per cent, up from 27 per cent in 2012.
• Grade 9 national average performance in language stood at 43 per cent (Home Language), unchanged from 2012 and 33 per cent (First Additional Language), a drop from 2012’s 35 per cent.
• Grade 9 mathematics, the national average was 14 per cent, an improvement of 1 per cent from 2012.

Above the 50 per cent mark

Results achieved in numeracy/mathematics:

• In Grade 1, 71 per cent of learners achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 77 per cent in 2012.
• In Grade 2, 70 per cent achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 68 per cent in 2012.
• In Grade 3, 59 per cent achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 36 per cent in 2012.
• In Grade 4, 27 per cent achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 26 per cent in 2012.
• In Grade 5, 21 per cent achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 16 per cent in 2012.
• In Grade 6, 27 per cent achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 11 per cent in 2012.
• In Grade 9, 3 per cent achieved above 50 per cent, compared to 2 per cent in 2012.

“Significantly more than half of the Grade 3 learner population achieved adequate to outstanding levels of performance in language and mathematics, a proportion fairly close to the 60 per cent target set for 2014,” the Minister noted. When it came to mathematics, only one out of every 10 Grade 6 learners achieved adequate and higher levels of performance.

The Minister said in both language and mathematics, Grade 9 learners demonstrated a fairly limited range of necessary basic skills and knowl