- Under the Competency Based Curriculum, learners will sit for a summative test called Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in Grade 9 for the Age Based curriculum, and Kenya Prevocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) for the Stage Based curriculum in the year 2025.
- KJSEA is the assessment that replaced the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE.)
Image: FILE
The Kenya National Examination Council on Monday began a five-day pilot of Grade 9 summative assessment tests administered to more than 5,000 learners from 235 schools across the country.
Under the Competency Based Curriculum, learners will sit for a summative test called Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in Grade 9 for the Age-Based curriculum, and Kenya Prevocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) for the Stage-Based curriculum in the year 2025.
KJSEA is the assessment that replaced the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE.)
Knec's Research, Innovation and Educational Assessment Resource Centre Acting Deputy Director Anne Ngatiab said the pilot exercise will take place from Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19.
The pilot comes as preparation for the Grade 9 assessment with the first cohort anticipating to be enrolled in 2025.
Thus, the target population for the assessment is all learners in Grade 8.
"A total of 5,875 learners drawn from 235 schools will participate in the pilot," Ngatia said.
Of the 5,875 learners who will be assessed, 5,125 learners follow the regular curriculum while 750 have special needs.
Ngatia said 30 special needs schools have been purposively sampled with representation from the following categories: Visual impairments, hearing impairments and Physical Disabilities.
She said 25 learners have been randomly sampled from each of the participating schools.
"In terms of the mode of administration, 30 schools will adopt e-assessment format while 205 will take pen and paper tests," Ngatia said.
Learners will be assessed in the following papers: English Language, English (Composition and Literary Analysis)
• Kiswahili Lugha, Kiswahili (Insha na Utangulizi wa Fasihi)
• Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) • Mathematics
• Integrated Science
• Agriculture & Nutrition
• Religious Education (CRE, HRE, IRE)
• Creative Arts & Sports and Pre- Technical Studies.
Other than the assessment, Ngatia said Knec will administer questionnaires to learners that seek to indicate their personality and interest.
" Knec will also administer a subject teacher questionnaire where the teacher is expected to provide feedback on the alignment of assessment tools to the intended learning outcomes as well as suitability for the level," she said.
Ngatia said the headteacher’s questionnaire focuses on the administration of the assessment tools and teacher competencies.
According to Knec, assessment outcomes from both formative and summative assessments shall contribute to final reporting at the end of Grade 9 in readiness for placement in Senior School for learners in the Age-Based pathway, and transition to the Vocational Level for learners in the Stage Based pathway.
Ngatia said the pilot will determine the feasibility of the proposed national assessment and identify the validity and reliability of the test instruments and other critical procedures.
Knec CEO David Njengere said the purpose of the pilot assessment it to determine the appropriateness of the Tables of Specifications developed for each subject at Grade 9.
"We also seek to establish the adequacy of the test items/tasks in each subject," the Knec boss said.
He said the pilot will assess the validity, reliability and efficiency of assessment tools in establishing learner competency levels.
The pilot also seeks to recognise the effectiveness of the procedures of administering the Summative Assessment at Grade 9.
It will show the readiness to use e-assessment in Junior schools as well as determine the appropriateness of the time allocated for the assessment.
Additionally, Njengere said the pilot seeks to establish the effect of using various formats of test items and determine the reliability of the scoring procedures.
"Knec seeks to assess the suitability of the criteria for grading assessments at Grade 9 in guiding placement in senior school," he said.
The pilot is also expected to bring out the most suitable styles of reporting assessment results.
Njengere said the lessons from the pilot will be used for the national rollout of the KJSEA at Grade 9 in 2025.
For the Special Needs category undertaking the KPLEA pilot, Ngatia said performance-based tasks will be employed.
" The Knec officer will take the role of a supervisor, while one of the teachers in the school will be appointed as an assessor," she said.
Ngatia said the assessment materials for KPLEA will be uploaded in the Knec CBA Portal for the pilot study Ngatia said schools will access, download, administer, score and upload the scores onto the same portal.
Once the Knec is done conducting the exercise, Ngatia said the results will be processed, thereafter review all the papers and generation of sample papers will be released to all schools to guide the assessment at Grade 9.
" Knec will conduct a Grade 12 pilot in 2027 to determine the appropriateness of the assessment tools that will mark the completion of Basic Education," Ngatia said.