Mbombela - More than half a million pupils in Mpumalanga will be tested to determine their literacy and numeracy levels.
Public school children in Grades 1 to 6 and 9 will sit for the Annual National Assessment exams between September 21 and 28.
"Over 591 050 learners in the province will write the ANA exams to test their language skills and their grasp of mathematics," said Education MEC Reginah Mhaule. "We have already sent examples of previous exams to schools so teachers can prepare themselves and their learners for the coming tests."
Mhaule hopes pupils will score an average of at least 49% for mathematics and literacy this year.
In 2010, Mpumalanga had the worst literacy and numeracy levels amongst Grade 3, 6 and 9 pupils when they produced an average of 23% for numeracy and literacy tests.
It was the first time that the national Department of Basic Education had conducted ANA exams to assess literacy among lower grade pupils across the country.
Mpumalanga will spend R70 million this financial year to help improve pupils' literacy and numeracy at the province's 1363 state primary schools.
Provincial education spokesperson Jasper Zwane said the test results for this year's ANA exams will be released in December.
The national department will supply schools with test materials and marking memoranda.
"The department will centrally moderate a sample of three scripts per class to assess the quality of marking that was done at school level," said Mhaule.
