BSTE 112
ASSIGNMENT 1 2024
DUE DATE: 20 March 2024 TOTAL MARK : 70
INSTRUCTIONS:
This is an individual assignment.
Work through the study material of Study Unit 8 and Study Unit 1 as well as the recommended resources, before answering any questions.
Rubrics will be used to assess some of your answers. Please include the rubrics in your assignment at the end of that specific question.
Please read through the rubric of each question for guidance before attempting to answer the question.
Follow the prescribed technicalities that must be followed to complete an assignment
Where possible use in-text citation to validate your answer and have a reference list included in your assignment.
Please save your assignment as a PDF document before submitting it to eFundi for assessment.
Please adhere to the due date of the assignment.
Good luck.
Question 1 [37]
1.1 Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.
Events that unfolded at XYZ Secondary School
XYZ Secondary School is a new school that has been in operation for two (2) years. In all the years it has been in operation, the school has been led by Mr Num who has just started on his role as the principal. Even though the school is still new, the expectation is it must follow all rules and regulations as mandated by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on how the school needs to operate. When the DBE conducted some investigation focusing on its recording and reporting of learners’ performance, it emerged that teachers do keep current mark sheets of learners’ progress. It also emerged that parents receive their children’s report cards in the second and fourth term only. When submitting learners’ end of year report cards, the school only released marks for Term 4 in the report cards. When questioned about such acts the principal’s response was, “What is important is for learners to get marks for that term. The previous terms’ marks are not important.” The DBE also realised that the school has no schedules as they are only completed once a year which is at the end of the year. Furthermore, the schedules only had a school stamp and the principal’s signature. When asked why the schedule did not include number of years learners spent in a phase, the principal mentioned that he was not sure if such information must be included in the schedule. It was however pleasing to learn that in the midst of all the challenges, teachers’ file were always availed for moderation whenever they were requested.
1.1.1 From reading the case study above, which of the NCS Grade R-12 policy documents do you think addresses matters that transpired at XYZ Secondary School and explain the reason for your answer? (2)
1.1.2 Guided by Chapter 5, 6, & 7 of the document stated in the above question (Question 1.1.1), identify errors that were committed at XYZ Secondary School in the recording and reporting of learners’ performance. From identified errors, give advice as to how the situations should have been handled. Support your answer through relevant sections and sub-sections of the document. (15)
1.1.3 Identify events where the school abided by the set regulations and substantiate your answer by referencing the relevant sections and subsections.
(10)
1.1.1 From reading the case study above, the National Policy on the Conduct, Administration and Management of the National Senior Certificate: A Qualification at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NCS) Grade R-12 addresses matters that transpired at XYZ Secondary School. This policy document establishes the principles, criteria, rules, and minimum requirements for the conduct, administration, and management of the National Senior Certificate. In the case of XYZ Secondary School, issues related to the recording and reporting of learners' performance are highlighted, which are directly linked to the requirements outlined in this policy document.
1.1.2 Errors that were committed at XYZ Secondary School in the recording and reporting of learners' performance include:
- Not keeping current mark sheets of learners' progress (Chapter 5).
- Only releasing marks for Term 4 in the report cards (Chapter 6).
- Lack of schedules or incomplete schedules (Chapter 7).
To rectify these errors, the school should have:
- Maintained up-to-date mark sheets for each learner throughout the academic year to monitor progress accurately (Chapter 5, Section 5.1).
- Included marks for all terms in the report cards to provide a comprehensive overview of learners' performance throughout the year (Chapter 6, Section 6.3).
- Developed and maintained schedules that include all required information, such as learners' years spent in a phase, and ensured that schedules are completed and updated as needed (Chapter 7, Sections 7.1 and 7.2).
1.1.3 Events where the school abided by the set regulations include:
- Availability of teachers' files for moderation when requested. This aligns with the guidelines for the internal moderation of assessment outlined in the policy document, where it is essential to have evidence of teachers' assessment records for review and moderation purposes. (Chapter 9, Section 9.2).