The Ministry and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have issued warning to schools after it emerged that schools are taking back Grade 4 learners against the Ministry official school calendar.
Through an internal memo to all County Directors of Education, the Ministry Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Julius Jwan, has asked schools to adhere to the Ministry guidelines on school programs.
Already ninety six schools in eleven counties are being investigated for illegally asking Grade 4 learners to report to school.
The Counties are Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Siaya, Kakamega, Embu, Kiambu, Machakos Nakuru, Kisimu, Taita Taveta and Bungoma.
Some parents said the schools are doing business with their kids as they are required to pay regular school levies.
The PS further warned Private schools found to be carrying out the offence will have their school registration certificates revoked.
Dr. Jwan said the current Grade 4 learners will resume learning in July 26th 2021.
The Grade 4 learners will join Grade 5 when they resume learning in July first term.
Ministry of Education has warned teachers and schools not to go against the official issued term dates.
In January the Ministry of Education issued school term dates for schools and colleges through a circular.
The circular read as below;
RE: SCHOOL CALENDERS FOR YEARS 2020, 2021, 2022 AND 2023 -REVISED TERM DATES FOR PRE-PRIMARY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGES
As you are aware all the learning institutions were closed in March 2020 to control the spread of Covid-19.
Further, following the Stakeholders Consultation, the revised term dates were agreed on in order to cover the remaining two terms of 2020 school calendar and stabilize school calendar by December 2022.
The revised term dates will be as stipulated below;
A) PRE-PRIMARY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
1) 2020 SCHOOL CALENDAR
TERM 2 & 3 SCHEDULE FOR CONTINUING LEARNERS (PP1&2, Grade 1-3, Class 5-7 and Form 1-3)
Note as follows:•
1. All Schools including schools offering international curriculum will open fully on 4 January, 2021;
2. All 4 year-olds will join PPI in July 2021.
3. Grade 4 CBC learners will transit to Grade 5 in July 2021.
4. Grade 4 and incoming Form 1 (class 8 graduates) will stay at home as other learners complete their term 3; Resume July 2021.
All field Education officers are asked to ensure strict adherence to these dates and give guidance to the stakeholders.
County Directors of Education are asked to produce enough copies of this circular for all field officers and Basic Education Institutions under their jurisdiction.
Dr. Belio R. Kipsang, CBS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
Grade 4 learners sat for their Formative Assessment tests as planned by Knec. The examiner made available the 2020 Grade 4 Age Based and Intermediate Level Stage Based assessment tools by 7th March 2021 for schools to access and use.
The tools covered the following subjects:
Age Based Curriculum (Regular) Pathway:
Mathematics;
English;
Kiswahili;
Kenyan Sign Language;
Science and Technology;
Agriculture;
Music;
Art and Craft;
Social Studies;
Christian Religious Education (CRE);
Islamic Religious Education (IRE);
Hindu Religious Education (HRE);
Home Science; and
Physical and Health Education.
Stage Based Curriculum Pathway:
Communication, Social and Literacy Skills;
Daily Living Skills and Religious Education;
Numeracy Activities;
Creative Activities;
Environmental Activities;
Psychomotor Activities; and
Sensory Motor Integration.
Schools were to upload Grade 4 Formative Assessment scores latest 19th March.
“Schools are therefore expected to download and administer the assessment tools; score; and upload the Grade 4 learners’ assessment scores on the KNEC Competency Based Assessment portal cba.knec.ac.ke between 8th and 19th March 2021,” the examiner had said.
However schools complained of poor Knec servers that made process of uploading scores difficult which made Knec to extend the deadline indefinitely.
“KNEC has confirmed that the grade 3 and 4 portals have mechanical problems and they are making every effort to rectify the problem. The deadline given earlier for the uploading of Grade 3 assessment outcomes will be extended when the system is back. You can meanwhile be checking the system but do not be stressed,” Knec said through its official social media handles.
Knec had directed all Head-teachers to keep all records generated from the assessment as evidence for use in quality assurance.
Knec is yet to release Grade 4 assessment results.