Grade 3 tests to check learners’ abilities

Kenya National Examinations Council CEO Mercy Karogo.

The forthcoming Grade Three assessment will check what pupils have learnt and what they can do with the experiences.

Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) CEO Mercy Karogo clarified that the assessment will monitor the progress of learners against set standards and not give scores or rank schools as happens in the traditional national examinations.

“The assessment will help the policymakers know the suitability of teaching and learning environment of the school, instructional materials and the extent of parental engagement in the education of their children,” she said.

Ms Karogo said the findings will be captured in a report that will enable the government make decisions to strengthen all the factors that contribute to teaching and learning in schools.

She spoke on the sidelines of the Pre-Conference meeting on Monitoring Learner Progress (MLP) and Learner’s Achievements in the 21st Century at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi.

Address the weakness

The Knec chief executive said the assessment will help the government compile a report about curriculum management and delivery at the school level.

“It will take appropriate measures to address the weakness while building on the strength revealed,” she said.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha underscored the importance of the pre-conference meetings saying they will develop a shared understanding on assessment in preparation for the major national curriculum conference on educationreforms aligned to the Competence Based Curriculum.

Ministry of Education launched a series of events, known as pre conference, which will take place ahead of the August national convention on CBC. The events will run upto August 12.