The Grade 7 learners who are part of junior secondary school will start the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) assessments next month.
According to the circular and guidelines released by Knec, the assessment will start with practicals and project activities before spilling over to written tests.
The practicals and projects will commence on 3rd July when the assessment materials will be made available on the Knec online platform.
It will cover Performing Arts, Visual Arts, English, Home Science, Integrated Science, Health Education, Physical Education and sports and religious education.
Teachers will be required to guide the learners during the assessment period, score and later submit the scores to Knec by 11th August.
The Grade 7 learners will sit for their written tests which according to Knec will start from 2nd October for all subjects; Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language, Integrated Science, Physical Education and Sports, Agriculture, Social Studies, Computer Science, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Business Studies, Life Skills Education, Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education and Religious Education (CRE, IRE, HRE).
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Education (KICD) had issued a new guidelines on junior secondary subjects.
In the new changes KICD dropped Life Skills and Health Education and made learners to have an option of chosing only one optional subject.
Below is the circular by Knec that was addressed to sub county directors of education and headteachers.
To:
(i) All Sub County Directors of Education
(ii) Heads of Junior Secondary Schools
(iii) Heads of Pre-Vocational Level Schools
RE: ADMINISTRATION OF THE YEAR 2023 GRADE 7 AND PREVOCATlONAL LEVEL SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT
1.0 The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will upload on the KNEC CBA portal the School Based Assessment tools for Grade 7 (age based pathway) and Pre-Vocational Level (stage based pathway).
2.0 To access the assessment portal, Headteachers are required to login onto the CBA portal: https://cba.knec.ac.ke. Any school that will have password challenges should contact their respective Sub-county Director of Education for resetting of the password.
3.0 Schools will be expected to administer the assessment tools, score and upload the assessment outcomes of all learners on the CSA portal.
4.0 SBA tools for Grade 7 will be provided in two formats: PDF format and digital format through the CBA portal https://cba.knec.ac.ke as follows:
4.1 PDF Format
4.1.1 Schools will be required to log in using the school credentials. (Username and password).
4.1.2 Schools will access the tools in PDF format and download.
4.1.3 The tools will then be given to learners in either print format, projected on the screen or written on the board.
4.1.4 Depending on the format adopted, learners may write their responses on the question paper or on the provided writing materials provided by the school.
4.2 Digital format
4.2.1 To access the tools in this format, individual leaners will be required to log onto the portal using their respective assessment numbers.
4.2.2 Upon logging in, learners will access the tools directly via digital devices such as the Digital Learning Programme (DLP) tablets available in schools.
4.2.3 Learners will be expected to give their responses on writing materials provided by the school.
5.0 The two formats of assessment tools wlll be displayed on the CBA portal dashboard using different buttons. Schools are encouraged to allow learners access the tools directly using the DLPs or any other available digital devices such as desktop computer and laptops. This will help schools save on printing cost. Those who may have challenges with the direct access may opt for the pdf format
6.0 SBA tools for Pre-Vocational Level will be accessed on PDF format by their teachers.
7.0 Teachers will assess the learners as they undertake the performance-based tasks and score using the guidelines provided in the tool.
8.0 A detailed user manual describing step by step on how to access the tools, instructions, scoring guides and how to upload learners’ scores is available on the CBA portal.
9.0 The assessment tools with coloured Images should be printed in colour or loaded on the digital devices available In the school. The learners should answer the questions using separate answer sheets provided by the school. In schools where the digital devices are Inadequate, the assessments can be done in shifts.
10.0 Headteachers are requested to keep all records and evidence generated from the assessments.
11.0 The materials required for the assessments should be obtained from the immediate school environment or Improvised as much as possible.
12.0 The tools will be accessed as shown below:
This information is to enable you to prepare and plan adequately.
DR. DAVID NJENGERE, MBS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER