The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has directed both public and private primary schools to adhere to the provided deadline of the 17th of December to upload scores for the assessments done for grades 3, 4 and 5 to the online portal.
KNEC CEO David Njengere revealed that a national assessment that is done periodically is necessary so as to enable the Ministry of Education to get crucial feedback in order to provide for the necessary interventions required in the education system.
Besides, all headteachers have been instructed to ensure that materials used during the assessment tests are obtained from the school’s surroundings or teachers to improvise as much as they can. This is to alleviate the need of stressing parents financially.
Njengere also revealed that the examiner has established a national assessment centre that will help in conducting various formative assessments nationwide.
According to the KNEC CEO, the objectives of the assessment are to:
- Provide evidence to help in accountability of teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders of education.
- Provide assessment feedback to both learners and stakeholders in the education fraternity.
- Facilitate pathways for selection and tracking in senior secondary schools
- Facilitate identification and nurturing of the potential of every learner.
- Boost learning and instruction
“Learners are assessed in Grade 3 for the Early Years Education, Grade 6 (Middle Years Education) and Grade 9 (Senior School education),” said Njengere.
Njengere further revealed that the assessment provides broad feedback on the outcomes of learning at the grassroots level for the purpose of making decisions whereas, on the other hand, the examination is a summative assessment for each student’s achievement, selection and placement.
All headteachers have also been directed to keep all records that have been generated from the assessments.
KNEC announced via a circular that it is planning to administer Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) to grades 3, 4 and 5 learners.
The examiner will also be uploading Monitoring Learners’ Progress (MLP) assessment tools for Grades 3 and Foundation level for Special Needs Education (SNE).
Learning areas will be uploaded for Grade 3 while for grades 4 and 5, the practical and protect based assessment scores will be uploaded.
Mathematics and English assessment tools for regular learners and those with special needs uploaded on the portal will be uploaded on the portal for Grade 3 on the 29th January 2022 when school will start the third term.
Assessments will be administered in schools between 31st January and the 4th of February 2022 and then scores uploaded on the 21st of February 2022.
Assessment areas for grade 4 and grade 5 regular learners are Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Music, Art and Craft, Social Studies, Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious (IRE), Hindu Religious Education (HRE), Home Science and Physical and Health Education. These assessments will be administered from the 31st of January to the 4th of February 2022. The scores for the assessment will be uploaded on the KNEC portal.