Chairperson, the reply is as follows: In relation to the first part, yes, our protocol and assessment defines adequate achievement in mathematics and language in these grades as scores between 50% and 59%. In relation to the second part, currently, information on learner performance in these particular grades resides at individual school level. With regard to the third part, achievement of this standard varies from school to school.
There are learners who achieve and exceed the standard, but some do not. With regard to the reasons, I can say my department is currently piloting an external national assessment of performance in mathematics and language at Grade 9 level to better understand factors that might impact on the achievement of learners.
From 2010, the Department of Basic Education will have this information at provincial and national levels. However, studies that have been conducted at Grades 3 and 6 indicate that some of the factors are associated with poor learner performance. Amongst others, there are the following: availability and proper use of appropriate resources, in order words, many schools don't have adequate resources, including books and the appropriate calculators and equipment; language of learning versus the home language, where opportunities present themselves to teach in the home language schools tend to favour a language that is foreign to the learner in terms of his or her home language; teaching methods are not appropriate and often the educators are underqualified. Our current interventions therefore target these factors.
What we can share is the fact that, as a result of our assessments in Grades 3 and 6, which are conducted nationally, we have noticed an improvement in literacy, and particularly in numeracy in the nine provinces. However, the reality that the achievement and performance of learners in both numeracy and literacy is not satisfactory is not acceptable and much more has to be done to intervene in those areas.
The last part is part four. It's answered in three, and part four relates to the interventions that have been made. Thank you.
Position regarding current number of beds at children's homes
19. Mr M J R de Villiers (DA) asked the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether there are any problems with the current number of beds at children's homes; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the problems and (b) at which homes;
(2) whether any measures have been taken to address the backlog; if not, (a) why not and (b) who is responsible for the drawing up of these measures; if so, what measures;
(3) whether any steps are in place to ensure that these measures are implemented; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what steps and (b) when will it be implemented?