Question NW978 to the Minister of Basic Education

Reply:

(a) INTRODUCTION

Umalusi processes for approval of results is not a tail end process. It begins with the quality assurance of several processes that culminate in a final product. Below are the processes that happen prior to the final standardisation process. The external moderators are engaged in these processes and the Assessment Standards Committee engages with the input from all these processes through qualitative input reports presented prior to the standardisation process.

1. THE PURPOSE OF THE QUALITATIVE INPUT REPORT

The qualitative input (QI) report assists the Assessment Standards Committee of Council (ASC) in their decision making process around standardisation matters per subject. It provides the committee with the history of quality assurance processes on a subject starting from the moderation of question paper(s), standardisation of the marking guidelines and ending with the process of verification of marking.

​1.1 MODERATION OF QUESTION PAPERS

The QI report provides information on the status of the question paper at the point of approval. It indicates whether the question paper(s) met the required standards by meeting the set criteria such as appropriate distribution of cognitive demands as set out in the Subject Assessment Guideline, adequate coverage of the subject content, technical aspects including the quality of diagrams and pictures used in the question papers etc.

​1.2 STANDARDISATION OF THE MARKING GUIDELINES

This part of the QI report gives details of the discussions on the marking guidelines leading to its finalisation before marking commences. Umalusi moderators play a role of an arbiter and final judge on what should be acceptable as appropriate responses, including alternate answers, to the various questions. Upon finalisation, the marking guideline is signed-off and no further changes and/or additions can be made without the consent of the relevant Umalusi moderator.

2.3 VERIFICATION OF MARKING

The verification of marking section of the QI report intends to provide information on whether marking in the various question papers was conducted in a consistent manner and confirms adherence to the marking guideline across provinces and regions. It also provides an opinion on whether marking was of quality and done accurately by checking on the allocation of marks and additions to arrive at the total mark obtained by a candidate. Umalusi has a right to request for remarking in a subject if there is enough evidence indicating that marking was done poorly and this may have unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged candidates.

(b) Yes, Umalusi will make the qualitative reports available to the PC on Basic Education.