Public and private schools are raising concerns over poor Knec servers which hamper the Grade 6 score uploading exercise as the deadline for the exercise approaches.
The Grade 6 learners sat for their summative assessment tests after completing their project and practical assessments which are both part of the School Based Assessment (SBA).
Schools were given till 16th September to upload the scores for the written tests and the project work on the Knec online portal.
However after downloading, administering and scoring schools are now facing an uphill task of ensuring the scores reach the examiner through the online platform.
Its not the first time teachers face problems in uploading learners scores onto the Knec portal.
Knec portal has remained the weakest link in the score uploading exercise. Since Knec launched the School Based Assessments in Grade 3, 4 and 5 teachers have faced numerous in during the score uploading period.
In November 2020, teachers faced a similar hiccup after administering an assessment to Grade 8 and Class 8 learners which were aimed at establishing learning gaps that were occasioned by the long period of closure of schools due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
However to beat the deadline and ensure the scores reached them, Knec gave schools an excel sheet to fill the scores and provided an email address where the filled workbook would be sent.
Knec is yet to comment on its servers weakneses and whether it will extend the deadline for uploading the scores.
In this summative assessment Knec assessed the thirteen subjects offered at Upper Primary level using five papers of multiple choice questions constituted as follows:
1. Mathematics;
2. English Language;
3. Kiswahili/Kenyan Sign Language;
4. Integrated Science (combines 4 subjects):
i) Science and Technology;
ii) Agriculture;
iii) Home Science;
iv) Physical and Health Education.
5. Creative Arts and Social Studies (combines 4 subjects):
i)Social Studies;
ii) Christian Religious Education/Islamic Religious Education/Hindu Religious Education;
iii) Art and Craft;
iv) Music.
The Grade 6 learners have did their projects and practicals last month which are also part of this assessment.
For Grade 6 the practical activity in Art and Craft was about Making a marrionete. In Homescience it was about Stewing.
In Music it was about Performing a folk song. In Science and Technology it was about Modeling a circulatory system.
And finally in PE it was about Front crawl in Swimming, Rope skipping and two handed catch in Handball.
The learners will sit for their final exam in primary in November this year. The exam is known as Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
Primary school results will be determined by the School Based Assessment, which is done every year in the upper primary classes and the five subject summative national examination.
The learners will have a 60 per cent of the score coming from SBA spread over Grade Four, Five and Six and 40 per cent from the KPSEA exams.
The school-based evaluation are done in form of projects, practicals, portfolios and oral assessments to allow learners to demonstrate what they have learnt, these are executed by the classroom teachers guided by Knec.
According to Knec circular Grade 3, 4 and 5 will sit for their written assessment tests when schools reopen Next term.
The Grade 6 learners will join junior secondary in January next year. The selection exercise for Grade 7 junior secondary ended on 10th September.
Junior secondary comprise of Grade 7, 8 and 9. The placement exercise to junior secondary will happen in December.