Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has issued a warning to the school head of 30,000 primary schools against unnecessarily pressurizing Grade Four Pupils when the school-based assessment begins on Monday of the coming week.
The CS said that the tests are not examinations while also advising parents not to panic unnecessarily.
“No one should be putting pressure on children about the assessments because they are not examinations. Even parents must stop putting pressure on the learners because these are not examinations,” said Magoha.
“I urge colleagues from the education sector to ensure that the Grade Four assessment that begins next week goes on as planned. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has already provided guidelines on this important assessment, which is part of the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC),” said Magoha.
Learners will undergo Grade Four assessment from the 8th to the 18th of March. Magoha said that parents must not pay for anything, noting that teachers already have resources.
“All schools received 50 percent of the capitation and no one should say that they are unable to administer the school-based tests,” said Magoha.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia also directed field officers to facilitate schools to administer the Grade Four formative assessments.
“I urge all field officers to support schools and ensure that class teachers access the KNEC assessment tools and administer them to their learners as seamlessly as they can,” said the TSC CEO.
Dr. Nancy Macharia directed teachers on when the assessments are to be done. She directed that teachers ensure the assessments are done in a normal class environment and also during class time.
The tests are set to begin this coming Monday.