Knec: list of crazy items schools are demanding for to effectively administer grade four Knec assessment CBC tests

Knec: list of crazy items schools are demanding for to effectively administer grade four Knec assessment CBC tests

Knec news: Parents decry excessive demands by schools during the administration of grade four tests

 

Parents have raised eyebrows  over some of the items required by rutors to effectively administer Knec Grade Four school-based tests.

The parents are already feeling the heat  even after the Council (Knec) directed teachers to make use of readily available material for the tests.

“We advised teachers to make the assessments as local as possible and based on items that are readily available within the school set up,” directed Knec Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Karogo.

Education CS Professor George Magoha also backed up Knec CEO’s directive when he asked teachers not to put undue pressure on the learners during the administration of the assessment tests.

“No one should put 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.

 

However, parents have described some demands by teachers as outrageous, since most of the items being asked for are not   readily available in some areas.

The National Parents Association chair Nicholas Maiyo has also noted with a lot of concern that some schools are insensitive in their demands.

“We had agreed that schools should use local materials but most of them are going against what we agreed upon,” said Mr Maiyo.

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He called upon teachers to assess the school environment before demanding for items.

“They must be sensitive enough to understand their environment and know some items can push parents to look for money. They should stick to what they said,” said Maiyo.

Check out the following list of crazy items that schools are demanding for to effectively administer grade four Knec assessment tests

One of the schools requested parents to avail an old shirt, a long stick, old gumboots, a string, an old pair of trousers, a short stick and old clothing for tests scheduled for this week.

The items will be used during Agriculture projects.

The list also includes tins, containers or polythene papers, cabbage leaves, onions, carrots, kales and Black/African Nightshade (managu) leaves.

 

Pupils are also expected to bring cereals such as rice, maize, wheat, sorghum seeds, beans, peas and green grams this week.

It has emerged that a number of the items will put undue pressure on parents as some of the items will have to be bought while others may not be available in some schools’ environment.

This week, learners are expected to take tests on Science & technology, Agriculture, PHE, Art/Craft, CRE and Home Science.

This means that pupils will engage in various projects in the respective subjects.

For Home Science, children have been asked to carry canvas shoes, plastic shoes, leather shoes, handtowel and washing brush.

The tests are administered to regular (age-based) and stage-based (special needs) learners. For the regular learners, Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Kenyan sign language, science and technology, music and arts and craft will be assessed.

Also to be assessed for this category of learners are social studies, Christian Religious Education, Islamic Religious Education, Hindu Religious Education, home science and physical and health education.

And for the special needs learners, the teachers will administer assessments in communication, daily living skills, social and religious education, numeracy, creative, environmental, and psychomotor activities and sensory-motor integration.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia directed all Commission field officers to facilitate schools to administer the tests.

“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 Dr Macharia.

The TSC boss instructed teachers to ensure that the assessments are during normal class hours.

“I must emphasise that these tests should be done in normal class hours and all learners should not be put under any tense atmosphere that is different from their normal day-day classes,” said Macharia.

She further told teachers to use assessment materials from their school environment in the spirit of CBC.

The tests which will end this week, are administered to Grade 4 learners who are the pioneer class of the 2-6-3-3-3 education system under CBC.