Mr Mishack Tshele (Data manager, CEA) did items analysis for the English First additional language items for the Teacher Assessment Resources for Monitoring and Improving Instruction (TARMII) project. The centre for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) was contracted by the Human Sciences Research Council to develop assessment items using the Teacher Assessment Resources for Monitoring and Improving Instruction (TARMII) system, which is linked to the Assessment Resource Bank (ARB). A team of item writers developed assessment items on the online system with moderators drawn in from the Humanities Education Department including Prof. Rinelle Evans, Dr Funkie Omdire, Dr Gerard Genis and Dr Hannelie du Preez from the Early Childhood Education Department who are moderating and reviewing these items before publication on the online TARMII system. The system will be accessible to teachers through the Department of Basic Education.  The CEA developed 2000 items for Grade 4 and Grade 6 across the areas of reading, writing and language structures in alignment with the CAPS curriculum for English First Additional Language.

The first round of training for the items writers was conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council at the Hatfield campus IT labs, the second round was conducted by Dr Nelladee McLeod Palane, Dr Hannelie du Preez and Mr Mishack Tshele at  the Groenkloof campus IT labs in the Aldoel building. The items, which were piloted in 50 schools in the Gauteng province are aligned to the National Curriculum Statement for English first additional language and are aimed at supporting teachers to enhance the teaching and learning process. The TARMII system comprises a database of assessment items and computer software that runs the database.