KNEC Releases New Assessment Schedule
KNEC Releases New Assessment Schedule. For students in Grades 3, 4, and 5, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced a schedule for national exams that will be given and graded by the classroom teacherrs.
Since the implementation of the competency-based curriculum, tests have been an element of formative assessments in the educational system. The assessment tools are uploaded by the council for schools to download and use with the students.
In an effort to reduce printing expenses, Knec has for the first time provided schools two ways to obtain the evaluation tools. Both PDF and digital versions of the assessment instruments will be accessible on the portal.
David Njeng’ere, CEO of Knec, informed sub-county directors of education, principals of general primary schools, and principals of special primary schools in a circular that the council would upload the KEYA assessment tools to the schools site on June 5, 2023.
Students in Grade 3 complete the assessment. Along with those for the Kenya Foundation Level Education evaluation (KFLEA), which is completed by students with exceptional needs who are unable to follow the regular curriculum, the tools for integrated learning evaluation will be uploaded.
The scores must be sent by the teachers to the Knec portal by August 11, 2023. From October 2 to October 26, 2023, the students will take the written exams for math and English.
The two tests are used to evaluate the learners’ progress before they go on to upper primary rather than to place them in the next level. Additionally, they are meant to provide information on the effectiveness of the curriculum to Knec, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, and the Teachers Service Commission. Also excluded from the final cumulative score at the conclusion of the primary school cycle are the results from the KEYA and KFLEA.
Teachers at the school level will administer and grade the exams. Unlike the conventional national examinations, the exercise should be conducted in a regular classroom context, according to Knec.
On July 10, 2023, assessment materials for students in Grades 4 and 5 will be uploaded through the school site. Teachers will then have until August 11 to upload the results.
Agriculture, art and craft, music, science and technology, social studies, home science, and physical education will all be evaluated. English and math written exams will be given between October 2 and October 26, 2023. Agriculture, art and craft, science and technology, social studies, home science, physical education, Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language, and religious education will also be included in the curriculum.
At the end of Grade 6, the evaluations from Grades 4 and 5 will contribute 20% to the overall cumulative score of the formative assessment. However, since junior secondary schools (Grades 7, 8, and 9) are housed in primary schools, it is not used for placement.
Then, the learners will receive the tools in print, projected on a screen, or written on the board. Students may write their responses on the question paper or on the writing materials the school provides, depending on the format used, Dr. Njeng’ere writes in the circular.
For elementary school head teachers who have previously grumbled about not having enough money to print the assessment tools, this will be a relief.
“Schools are urged to permit students to directly access the tools through DLPs or any other readily available digital devices, such as desktop and laptop computers. As a result, schools will spend less on printing. The PDF format is an option for those who might struggle with direct access, according to Dr. Njeng’ere.