Pretoria: The Free State Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, has called on parents to support the 408 094 learners in grades 1 – 6 and 9, who will be sitting for the Annual National Assessment (ANA) examinations from 10 – 13 September 2013.

“Get involved in your children’s homework by using learner workbooks and get ANA exemplar question papers and discuss possible answers,” Makgoe said.

He said parents will be informed of their children’s performance and given reports.

The ANA will assess learner literacy and numeracy abilities at foundation, intermediate and senior phase.

Literacy is the ability to read for knowledge, write logically and communicate well, while numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and mathematics concepts.

The ANA will not be used for learner progression or promotion to the next grade but verify that every learner in every school is developing the languages and mathematics skills appropriate for the grades. This will allow educators to identify areas where they need to intervene.

“Our ANA pass rate target this year is 60 percent and we are committing to reward every school that obtains 100 percent with a hall,” Makgoe said.

To ensure the smooth administration of the 2013 ANA assessment, the department has provided schools with the 2013 ANA timetable; 2012 ANA report; 2013 diagnostic analysis report; 2013 Assessment Guidelines for teachers to be able to plan for the administration of ANA and 2013 Exemplars for teachers to prepare learners for the administration of ANA.

The ANA results will be released in December 2013.