THE AFTER-MATH OF GRADE THREE ASSESSMENT TEST

In summary:
All pupils who are currently undertaking this test shall be promoted to Grade 4 next year. No pupil will be forced to repeat for being a failure.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is collecting data from all schools across the country to inform its future policies.

The Ministry of Education has finally given the long-awaited for maiden remarks about the ongoing Grade three CBC assessment tests. These examinations kicked off last week amidst a few bottle-necks.

Some of the major challenges voiced by teachers include overwhelming numbers of pupils and inadequate examination materials.

Besides, teachers have also argued that the tests are too shallow. They may thus not fully depict the true picture of the learners’ skills and competencies.

GRADE THREE CBC RESULTS
Parents and teachers should not expect the results of individual learners as in the case of KCPE and KCSE.

Furthermore, there will be neither result slips nor report cards showing the learners’ progress.

Kenyan schools will not also be ranked using the ongoing Monitoring Learners’ Progress (MLP).

All pupils will proceed to Grade four. The examinations will not be used as a pass mark to the next level of learning.

DEADLINE
Dr Belio Kipsang announced that all the assessment tests should be completed by 25th October 2019.

Moreover, the teachers are free to administer these tests at their own pace as long as they wind up before the term elapses.

According to Dr Belio, the monitoring and assessment of learners shall continue throughout the learning process.

EVALUATION
The teacher in charge is responsible for the assessment of the learners’ competencies. S/ he will judge whether the learner has achieved or exceeded expectations.

Their evaluation will be objective since it is based on MLP tasks provided by KNEC.

These tasks are sourced from the Grade three portal on the KNEC website.

TEACHER TRAINING
It was further confirmed that all teachers handling lower grades have undergone training in CBC implementation and MLP. This training was undertaken during the April and August holidays.

More in-service training is scheduled for the December holidays.
Secondary school teachers will also undergo rigorous training in preparation for a soft landing of learners who will proceed to junior secondary at Grade 7.

SPECIAL NEEDS LEARNERS
The competency-based curriculum has not shut the doors for physically and mentally challenged learners.

Those learners with visual, physical or hearing impairment who have been incorporated into the “normal” classroom will be monitored using flexible activities which vary based on their incapacitation.

Special need learners in special schools will be monitored by the use of special tailor-made tools in social activities. This will give them an anchor in life as it will help them lead a normal life and promote positive interaction between them and their peers.

KNUT’S STAND
The ongoing assessment test is a clear proof of the CBC roll out despite KNUT’s opposition.

KNUT, through its Secretary-General then had claimed that the rollout of the competency-based curriculum is illegal and a blatant violation of the Kenyan Constitution.

The union also accused the Ministry of Education of failure to fully involve all education stakeholders.