NATIONAL EDUCATION EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT NEEDU NATIONAL EDUCATION EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT A PRESENTATION TO Portfolio Committee of Basic Education 6 September 2011 Cape Town

National Education Evaluation and development Unit NEEDU National Education Evaluation and development Unit A Ministerial committee on NEEDU was established to advise on how independent evaluation of the education system could be undertaken

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS To function as an independent statutory body at arms length from government To provide the Minister with an authoritative, analytical and accurate account on the state of schools and the status of teaching and learning To recommend minimum performance standards for schools To identify factors that inhibit or advance school improvement To recommend appropriate developmental interventions or sanctions to ensure that schools function effectively To strengthen internal evaluation capacity within schools To monitor the different levels of school support (SGBs, districts, provinces and DBE) To review and assess existing monitoring, evaluation and support structures and instruments on a regular basis to ensure alignment To provide schools with evidence-based advice on how to pursue school improvement in their particular contexts To promote school improvement through the dissemination of good practice 3

FUNCTIONS OF NEEDU EVALUATION IMPERATIVES FUNCTIONS OF NEEDU Accountability Framework minimum performance standards propose appropriate sanctions To ensure coherence and complementarity of school evaluation Reporting state of schools account for standards iden factors influencing school improvement Make recommendations for addressing problems monitor school support Developmental Strengthen the internal evaluation capacity in schools provide schools with evidence –based advice Knowledge generation evidence based advice on school improvement dissemination of good practice

NEEDU QLTC Self-evaluation External Evaluation Verification 2014 ? 2025? 2011 5

International and national evaluation initiatives in South Africa Institutional Functionality Teacher Profiles knowledge Teacher practice Learner performance SES TIMMS Yes __ PIRLS SAQMEQ Systemic Evaluation ANA WSE/SSE IQMS Yes? NEEDU 6

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME Short term focus on underperforming schools Evaluate key aspects of system – especially those related to delivery of Schooling 2025 Use ANA and other evaluation mechanisms to audit and report on the health of the system and recommend intervention strategies Report regularly to the Minister and to the public 7

ENVISAGED OUTCOMES Create a culture of increased accountability in schools Strengthening quality of support structures Increased attention to curriculum delivery Independent reporting on quality of learning and teaching at schools

MILESTONES CEO: appointed on 1 July 2010 Small team of professionals Development of draft bill Inception Conference Development of protocols and instruments Provincial visits: mandate from the Minister Schools, districts, HODs, MECs Recruitment of broader staff team Survey of 100 schools