End of Term 3

No school this week! The third term ended last Friday, so schools are closed for both learners and teachers. I am planning to visit many of my new neighbors and just explore the terrain in general. Hopefully the weather will cooperate! The end of the term was marked by a serious of high stakes tests from both the state (country) and province (state). There were actually so many different tests being given that I honestly could not keep track. All learners in grades 1-7 took state exams (called the Annual National Assessment) in Maths/Numeracy and Home Language (isiZulu), and learners in grades 4-7 also took an exam in their First Additional Language (English). Grades 4-6 also took a whole serious of tests from the province for other subject areas such as Natural Science and Arts & Culture. And there may even have been some “end of term” tests written by the individual teachers thrown in the mix. It took nearly two weeks for all of these tests to be written (taken) and marked (graded) after which the results needed to be sent to the appropriate education office. Not an easy job (no scantrons here!) and an enormous amount of paperwork. I’ll be interested to see if and how the results are used to guide further instruction.