Original Research

Assessment literacy of foundation phase teachers: An exploratory study

Anil Kanjee, Jane Mthembu
South African Journal of Childhood Education | Vol 5, No 1 | a354 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajce.v5i1.354 | © 2015 Anil Kanjee, Jane Mthembu | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 04 September 2015 | Published: 04 September 2015

About the author(s)

Anil Kanjee, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
Jane Mthembu, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

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Abstract

This study explores foundation phase teachers’ assessment literacy, and their understanding and use of formative and summative assessment. Using questionnaires, observations and interviews, data were obtained from Grade 1, 2 and 3 teachers from a school each in quintile 2, 3 and 5. Teachers from all three schools demonstrated equally low levels of assessment literacy. While understanding of summative assessment was noticeably higher, all teachers demonstrated very poor understanding of formative assessment. Notwithstanding the small sample size, the study highlights the need for professional development programmes to focus on enhancing teachers’ assessment literacy. It also calls for additional research on a conceptualisation of assessment literacy that is relevant to South African teachers, and for determining the impact of concepts and practices advocated in the national assessment and curriculum policies on teachers’ use of assessment to address the learning needs of all learners across schools in the different quintile categories.

Keywords

assessment literacy, foundation phase, formative assessment, summative assessment, assessment policy, quintile category

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