1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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