Outline of presentation of presentation

1. Living up to expectations? A comparative investigation of Life Orientation in the National Senior Certificate and the National Certificate (Vocational)Helen Matshoba 5 November 2014

2. Outline of presentation of presentation • Objectives of the research • Phases of the project • Methodology • Stakeholder workshop • Evaluation team members • Documents used • Curriculum aspects considered • Assessment aspects considered • Recommendations

3. Objectives of the project • Establish whether there is a need to reconsider the assessment structure of Life Orientation within the NSC • Determine the possibility of credit transfer for Life Orientation between the NSC and NC(V) since Life Orientation is a fundamental subject in both qualifications that carries equal credits

4. Phases of the project • The project had 4 phases • Phase 1 - the engagement of various stakeholders in order to obtain their view/understanding regarding the purpose and status of Life Orientation within the NSC and NC(V); • Phase 2 - analysis of the curriculum and accompanying assessments of Life Orientation within the NSC and the NC(V); • Phase 3 - quality assurance of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) and determining the Exit Level Outcomes; • Phase 4 – International comparison (Kenya, British Columbia and Singapore)

5. Methodology Stakeholder workshop • Focus on the historical analysis of the subject, its purposes and its standing within the NSC and NC(V). • To investigate whether the implementers of the subject have a common understanding of the purpose of the LO and how they engage with the subject to achieve its purpose. • To identify the challenges associated with LO from the implementation point of view.

6. Methodology Evaluation Team Members • A team of ten subject experts conducted the analysis • The team members were drawn from the schooling, FET colleges and HE sectors • 2NC(V) lecturers: one for the Life Skills and one for ICT component • 1NSC teacher • 2NC(V) provincial coordinator(s): 1 for Life Skills and one for ICT • 1NSC provincial coordinator • 2NC(V) external moderator(s): 1for the Life Skills and 1 for ICT • 1NSC external moderator • 2university experts

7. Methodology Documents used for the NC(V) • Memorandum 09 of 2010; Conduct of NC(V) Level 2, 3 and 4 Life Orientation Paper 2 (Computer Literacy) • Subject Guidelines Life Orientationfor Levels 2 – 4 • Assessment Guidelines for Levels 2 – 4 • The Revised Guidelines for the Implementation of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICASS) in the NC(V) qualifications at FET Colleges • NC(V) examination guidelines

8. Methodology Documents used for the NSC • Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement Further Education and Training Phase Grades 10–12: Life Orientation • National Protocol for Assessment Grades R–12 (CAPS 2) • Programme and Promotion Requirements – National Policy pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R–12 • Life Orientation Examination Guidelines Grade 12

9. Curriculum Aspects Considered • Broad curriculum design • Curriculum terminology • Curriculum aims • Curriculum coverage, breadth and specification of topics • Content/ skills weighting • Specification of pedagogic approaches • Specificity • Pacing, sequencing and progression • Integration • Format and user-friendliness of the curriculum documents • General comparability of the NSC and NC(V) curricula • Role and place of the subject in the two qualifications

10. Assessment Aspects considered • Assessment in the NSC Life Orientation • Assessment in the NC(V) Life Orientation • Comparison of the assessment structures of the NCS and the NC(V) • Comparison of examination guidelines • Achievement by successful learner • Conclusion

11. Thank you