SurveyCTO Training for Early-Grade Assessments

The AFLEARN and DataFirst are pleased to offer a practical, hands-on training in SurveyCTO focused specifically on Early Grade Assessments. This course will be held at the University of Cape Town, 19 to 23 January 2026.

Why This Course?

Accurate measurement of early grade reading and numeracy is essential for improving foundational learning. To generate high-quality data, tools should be accurate, consistent across provinces and projects, and technically robust. As the education sector increasingly adopts digital data collection, there is a strong need to strengthen capacity in SurveyCTO-both for general survey design and for administering timed Early Grade Reading Assessments (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessments (EGMA).

This course responds to that need by:

• Building strong foundational skills in SurveyCTO form design and secure data workflows.
• Strengthening national and provincial capacity to deliver standardized EGRA/EGMA assessments using timed SurveyCTO modules.
• Supporting DBE's goal of harmonized tools that produce comparable results across provinces, programmes, and implementing partners.
• Enhancing competency across government, NGOs, technical assistance teams, and private fieldwork firms to implement assessments at scale.
• Ensuring participants are confident using grid-timed and flash-timed plug-ins for early grade reading and numeracy tasks.

Course Overview

With three days of core SurveyCTO training, followed by two days dedicated to EGRA/EGMA, this course equips participants with the practical skills needed to design, implement, and manage high-quality digital assessments.

Day 1: Foundations of Digital Data Collection

• Survey workflow
• Orientation to SurveyCTO forms (type, name, label)
• Building and managing choice lists
• Survey encryption and secure data handling

Day 2: Form Logic & Structure

• Using hints effectively
• Required fields
• Constraints & constraint messages
• Relevance (skip logic)
• Groups & repeat groups
• Designing multi-lingual surveys

Day 3: Advanced Features

• Referencing repeated fields
• Choice filters
• Randomisation
• Preloading data
• Using server datasets

Day 4: EGRA/EGMA in SurveyCTO

• Field plug-ins for assessment modules
• Using Timed-Flash for reading tasks
• Timed Grid Choice for numeracy tasks

Day 5: Advanced EGRA/EGMA

• Preloading test items (FUNS-style EGRA)
• Efficient data output and structuring
• Advanced EGMA task design

Course Facilitators

The course will be facilitated by experts in digital survey design, data systems, and education measurement, including:

• Tim Brophy, Senior Manager: Operations and Data of the SALDRU Survey and Data Hub
• Georgi Borros, Research Manager at SALDRU's Survey and Data Hub
• Jan Schenk, expert in digital survey design, data systems, and education measurement
• Asanda Lobelo, Research Associate at the Department of Basic Education (DBE)

Who is this course for?

This training is designed for:

• DBE officials (national and provincial)
• NECT
• Technical assistance partners (e.g., BCL)
• NGOs working in foundational learning
• Researchers working in foundational learning
• Private-sector fieldwork and research companies

What will I learn?

Participants will gain the ability to:

• Build secure, well-structured SurveyCTO forms
• Implement complex logic, multilingual surveys, and randomisation
• Use preloaded datasets and server connections
• Build standardized, timed EGRA and EGMA instruments

Course fee

The course is free for participants from the government, university, and NGO sectors. Participants from the private sector will be charged a course fee of R10,000. Travel and accommodation expenses are not included and must be self-funded. Morning and afternoon teas, lunch, and an off-campus social event will be provided.

University of Cape Town: A Summary

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Overview:

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a globally recognized university located in South Africa. It is committed to unleashing human potential to create a fair and just society, with a focus on transformation, sustainability, and excellence. UCT is known for its strong academic programs, research initiatives, and commitment to social responsibility.

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Services Offered:

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The provided context does not offer specific details about student life and campus experiences at UCT. However, it highlights the university's commitment to creating a supportive environment for students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

International Recognition:

UCT graduates hold qualifications that are recognized globally.

Social Justice Focus:

The university emphasizes values of engaged citizenship and social justice.

Research Excellence:

UCT is a leading research institution in Africa, contributing to new knowledge and addressing global challenges.

Sustainable Development Goals:

UCT is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and plays a critical role in addressing global challenges through research.

Transformative Initiatives:

UCT is actively involved in initiatives like the African Paediatric Fellowship Programme and the 100UP programme, which aim to address critical issues in healthcare and education access.

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Academic Programs:

The context mentions the university's commitment to generating new knowledge in, for, and from Africa. It also highlights specific research achievements, such as identifying a new heart-attack gene and a landmark restitution of human remains. However, it does not provide a detailed list of academic programs offered at UCT.

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Other:

UCT is ranked among the top 1.3% of universities worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). The university is actively involved in various initiatives to address global challenges, including climate change and healthcare access.