Country or Region | Zimbabwe |
Year | 2012 - 2015 |
Producer(s) | Zimbabwe School Examinations Council - Government |
Metadata | Download the documentation |
Created on
Mar 13, 2015
Last modified
Mar 13, 2015
Overview
Identification
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Early Learning AssessmentNational student assessment
Summary
The Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment (ZELA) has been administered annually since 2012 by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), with the technical support of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) for the assessment design and administration. It targets grade 3 (ISCED 1) students in public, private and satellite schools. (Satellite schools are particular to Zimbabwe. They are temporary schools, linked to the government but which does not have the regular status, infrastructure or budget of a public school) ZELA is a four-year research study funded by UNICEF as part of the Education Development Fund for Zimbabwe. Four cycles of the assessment are being administered: the baseline study in 2012; the monitoring cycles; and the evaluation cycle in 2015.
ZELA is a low-stake assessment. It is a written assessment, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. All test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.
ZELA aims to assess the impact of the UNICEF Education Transition Fund programme interventions (2012-2015). The Education Transition Fund provides essential material resources and support to increase access to quality education for all in Zimbabwe. The assessment also serves for planning education policy reforms and for other research purposes with regards to the UNICEF Education Development Fund.
Random sample
Results are available at the national level. Data are disagregated by sex, geographic location (urban and rural), and type of school (public, private and satellite).
Results are published in reports, which are available in print and online. Results are published in the media.
Scope
The Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment assesses students in English and Mathematics. Both tests are administered in the English language and have a duration of 60 minutes. Description of test items: Test items consist of multiple choice questions with three or more response options.
Description of stimuli: Test stimuli consist of continuous and non-continuous texts.
Reporting metrics: Student performance scores are reported by subject tested. Student performance is reported by a score based on five plausible values, and by proficiency levels. The minimum requirement to meet the national standard is level 2, otherwise described as "at grade level". Level 3 indicates performance above grade level, and level one indicates performance below grade level.
Note that students' performance on the 2013 tests will provide further information to refine the definition of the three proficiency levels.
Coverage
NationalStudents enrolled in grade 3 (ISCED 1) in public, private and satellite schools.
Producers and Sponsors
Name | Affiliation |
---|---|
Zimbabwe School Examinations Council | Government |
Name | Affiliation | Role |
---|---|---|
Zimbabwe School Examinations Council | Government | Test development and administration; data processing and dissemination; programme development |
Australian Council for Educational Research | Research organization | Test development and administration; data processing and dissemination; programme development; capacity building |
The United Nations Children's Fund | International organization | Financial support |
Other foreign organizations | N/A | Financial support |
Metadata Production
Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
---|---|---|---|
Zimbabwe School Examinations Council | ZIMSEC | Government | Data collection |
UNESCO Institute for Statistics | UIS | United Nations | Questionnaire design, metadata collection, review and publication |