Labour Wrap: Politics behind the ANA test?

The decision by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga unilaterally to impose annual national assessment (ANA) testing in December, probably has more to do with the looming local government elections that with education, says Terry Bell in his latest Labour Wrap.

Cape Town - The decision by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga unilaterally to impose annual national assessment (ANA) testing in December, probably has more to do with the looming local government elections that with education, says Terry Bell in his latest Labour Wrap.

And he feels that most of the media have simply accepted government assurances that the tests are good and opposition to them is bad.

This, Bell maintains, shows a complete lack of analysis. He is also critical of the fact that most coverage of this issue has tended to focus solely on the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu). However, all five teacher unions oppose this testing.

Bell points out that in September, the unions and the department agreed to establish a task team to look into the major flaws in the proposed tests and the lack of any remedial follow up to any highlighted problems. The team was to report back by December and, if sound, diagnostic testing was agreed, this could be implemented in February.

Rather than looking more deeply into this issue, most of the media, says Bell, accepted without question the government position. This was summed up earlier this week by ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, who noted: “I love ANA.” Several wits then asked on social media: “ANA who?”

But, adds Bell, this is no laughing matter, it concerns the future of our children and the country. He also points out that, during a visit to a Cape Flats school this week, he saw some of the problems that teachers already face with inadequate facilities and over crowded classes.

But the fact that ANA will add another burden is not the main reason these teachers oppose this test regime. They are aware that it is flawed and will add nothing of benefit to to learners or teachers.

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* Terry Bell is a political, economic and labour analyst. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.