The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued a mandatory requirement for all Diploma teacher trainees sitting for national assessments in 2024.
KNEC in a circular to all Principals of Diploma Teacher Training Colleges has ordered the trainee teachers to ensure they acquire a laptop for them to sit this years assessments.
The Council has listed eight minimum requirements for the laptop to be used in the online assessment tests.
This is a huge blow to many trainee teachers who are struggling with fee arrears and other charges that come with the new training that was aligned to match the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
KNEC has given the trainee teachers till 30th April, 2024 to acquire the gadgets or risk being barred from the assessments which are vital for their certification.
From the markets, indicators show that the laptop required by KNEC will cost at least sh 24,000 and it will be a refurbished laptop.
This cost is too much especially for teachers upgrading to various teacher Diploma programmes.
Below is a circular by Knec CEO David Njengere that was sent to all Principals of Diploma Teacher Training Colleges.
RE: CONDUCT OF 2024 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSESSMENTS ON THE E-ASSESSMENT PORTAL
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) wishes to bring the following information to the attention of all Principals of Diploma Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs):
1.0 KNEC will be Conducting assessment in the following Teacher Education courses in the year 2024:
1.1 Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE);
1.2 Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE);
1.3 Upgrade Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (UDPTE);
1.4 Upgrade Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (UDECTE); and
1.5 Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (DSTE).
2.0 All assessments shall be administered electronically through CBATE portal.
Principals are therefore requested to adequately prepare for the assessment by putting in place the required ICT Infrastructure for effective administration of School Based Assessments (SBA) and Summative Assessments online, using the KNEC e-assessment portal.
3.0 To facilitate the KNEC e-assessment process, all teacher trainees are required to have laptops with the following minimum specifications by 30th April, 2024:
3.1 Licenced Windows 10 version 22H2 and above;
3.2 14-inch screen (minimum resolution 1920×1080);
3.3 Integrated Webcam;
3.4 HDD 256gb SSD;
3.5 Memory 8gb;
3.6 Core i3 gen 6 above;
3.7 Internal Battery that can last for more than 3 hrs
3.8 IEEE 802.11 Wireless capability (ac,g or n).
4.0 All Principals of the registered Diploma Teacher Training Colleges should ensure availability of stable Internet connectivity and power supply.
DR. DAVID NJENGERE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
THE KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL