The Kenya National Examinations Council, knec, has insisted that grade 3 learners will be subjected to a term long assessment and not an exam as it is being reported in the media. The council was responding to assertions that the learners will be sitting an examination in the exercise which kicked off on Monday September 16, 2019.
“Education CS George Magoha explained on Friday that Grade 3 learners aren’t sitting any exams. The Exams Council is only monitoring their progress in a term-long exercise that does’nt have a timetable, is conducted by class teachers, has no supervision, and learners won’t be ranked,” insists the council.
On Friday, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha said the exercise of monitoring Grade 3 learners progress isn’t an exam. According to the CS, the exercise is meant to collect data to inform policy decisions on the Competency Based Curriculum, CBC. He said that there won’t be timetable for the tests.
Also, the CS clarified that Birth certificates are not needed for the monitoring of learner progress and that all learners will progress to Grade 4 next year.
knec on its part was quick to quash a 2019 grade 3 tests time table that was being circulated in Social Media Platforms. “The Public should be notified that the timetable circulating in social media on Grade 3 monitoring is fake. Under the exercise; There’s no supervisor/invigilator, No timetable, the test is administered by class teachers, there are no individual scores and all Grade 3 kids will join Grade 4; next year,” insisted the Council.
Education CS George Magoha while conducting CBC class observation on Friday at Joytown Primary school, Thika restated that there is no Grade 3 national exam. The CS said Schools will administer a routine assessment of learners’ competencies the whole term to point out areas requiring interventions.
The Director General, Department of Basic Education in the Republic of South Africa Hubert Mweli follow a lesson in grade three class room at the Visa Oshwal Primary School. SA Government wants Kenya to help it to introduce Kiswahili in her schools. Photo/ Courtesy
The Tests
Meanwhile, the Council has instructed schools to download the test papers from the official knec portal. The tools to be used for monitoring of learners progress have already been uploaded on the KNEC Grade 3 Portal for head teachers to download and print copies for the learners.
“Schools can access the true copies of the Monitoring of Learner Progress (NOT EXAMS) from the Exams Council portal,” knec says.
“In the event that a school is not able to download the MLP tools the head teacher is advised to liaise with the Curriculum Support officer or the Sub county Director of Education for assistance,” advises the Council.
Learners will be assessed in the following three areas:
1). English language activities;
2). Mathematical activities and
3). Integrated learning Areas
Administration of the tools for Monitoring Learner Progress (MLP)
According to instructions from the exams council, Grade 3 MLP tools shall be administered by the headteacher and teachers in charge of the specific learning areas.
The council further says it will not provide supervisors and invigilators during the conduct and administration of the assessment tools to grade 3 learners. Likewise marking, scoring and uploading of the learners’ performance levels onto the KNEC grade 3 portal will also be done by the class teachers.
The Kenya National Examinations Council has developed guidelines for use by the Education field officers during the monitoring of learner progress for the 2019 grade 3 learners in both public and private primary schools offering KICD (Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development) Curriculum. The following learning areas will be assessed:-
1). English language activities; 2). Mathematical activities; 3). Integrated learning Areas
KNEC has already prepared guidelines on the enrollment of grade 3 learners and the roles to be played by different Education officers during the monitoring of the grade 3 learner progress.
Identification and enrolment of Grade 3 learners
The identification and enrolment of grade 3 learners shall be done ONLINE. The exercise commenced on 1st July, 2019 and is scheduled to end on 31st August, 2019.
KNEC has developed a Grade 3 learners portal and downloaded the bio data for grade 3 learners from National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) to assist head teachers identify their learners and enroll those who are not capture in the NEMIS database.
New schools without KNEC code are advised to liaise with the Sub county Director of education office for coding. The Sub county Director of education is expected to forward the schools’ details to KNEC for activation and issuance of passwords.
To access the Grade 3 portal, head-teachers are advised to do the following:
Visit the KNEC website and click on the link called ‘Grade 3 portal’, – which will direct you to ‘cba.knec.ac.ke’.
Schools which already have a KNEC KCPE School Code will log into the portal using the KNEC School Code as the Username and the Password which they use during KCPE examination registration.
Dissemination of the Grade 3 MLP tools
1). The tools to be used for monitoring of learners progress shall be uploaded on the KNEC Grade 3 Portal for head teachers to download and print copies for the learners.
2). All head teachers are expected to fill an e-readiness questionnaire online and submit it to KNEC immediately.
3). Each school is expected to use its password to access KNEC grade 3 portal for purposes of downloading monitoring/assessment tools. KNEC has already started the coding of new schools to facilitate enrolment of learners and downloading of the tools.
4). In the event that a school is not able to download the MLP tools the head teacher is advised to liaise with the Curriculum Support officer or the Sub county Director of Education for assistance.
5). The Sub county Director of Education and Curriculum Support officer shall advise KNEC on the best method to use to disseminate the tools for different categories of learners with special needs in education.
Administration of the tools for Monitoring Learner Progress (MLP)
1). Grade 3 MLP tools shall be administered by the headteacher and teachers in charge of the specific learning areas,
2). KNEC will not provide supervisors and invigilators during the conduct and administration of the assessment tools to grade 3 learners. Likewise marking, scoring and uploading of the learners’ performance levels onto the KNEC grade 3 portal will also be done by the class teachers.
The following personnel will be involved in the administration of the Grade 3 MLP tools.
County Director of Education;
TSC County Director;
Sub county Director of Education;
TSC Sub county Director;
Curriculum Support Officer;
Head teacher;
Subject Teacher;
The County Director of Education
The County Director of Education is responsible to the Kenya National Examinations Council for the successful monitoring of grade 3 learners’ progress in the County. His/her duties include to:
1). Coordinate the administration of the tools for grade 3 learners in their respective counties to ensure it is conducted according to KNEC guidelines;
2). Ensure that all schools in the County have adequate facilities for smooth administration of the tasks/tools and monitoring of learners progress. These facilities include following;
Internet connectivity;
Working computers and printers for ease of downloading of the tools and uploading of learners scores;
Standard and well ventilated classrooms;
Secure storage rooms for the head teacher to keep the MLP tools;
suitable furniture for the learners;
The Role of the TSC County Director
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC)County Director is responsible to the Kenya National Examinations Council for the successful monitoring of grade 3 learner progress in the county. His/her duties include to:
1). Oversee the receipt of all circulars on the administration of tools for monitoring grade 3 learners progress from KNEC;
2). Ensure that all headteachers and teachers involved in the administration of the grade 3 MLP are registered by the TSC;
3). Coordinate and ensure that all headteachers download and print copies of the tools for the learners and upload the learners’ scores online upon completion of marking and scoring;
4). Ensure discipline of headteachers and teachers during monitoring of grade 3 learner progress;
5). Quality assure the administration of the grade 3 MLP tools within the County.
Sub-County Director of Education
The Sub-County Director of Education is directly answerable to the County Director of Education for the proper and successful administration of grade 3 MLP tools in the Sub County. His/her duties include the following:
1). Coordinate receipt of all circulars from KNEC and forwarding them to TSC Sub county Director who will ensure that the circulars received by the head teachers;
2). Brief headteachers and Education officers jointly with TSC Sub –County Director and KNEC officers (where applicable) on the administration of grade 3 MLP tools;
3). Ensure that all schools in the Sub County have adequate facilities for conduct of grade 3 MLP. These facilities include;
Internet connectivity;
Working computers and printers for ease of downloading of MLP tools and uploading of learners scores;
Secure storage rooms for the head teacher to keep the MLP tools;
Suitable furniture for the learners;
Identify and assist schools that do not have the capacity to download and print copies of the MLP tools;
4). Quality assure the administration of grade 3 MLP tools in their respective Sub counties.
The Role of the TSC Sub-County Director
The TSC Sub-County Director in liaison with the TSC County Director is responsible to the Kenya National Examinations Council for the successful administration of grade 3 MLP tools in the Sub- County. His/her duties include to:
1). Oversee the receipt of all circulars on the conduct of grade 3 MLP from KNEC through the Sub county Director of Education;
2). Ensure all head teachers and teachers involved in the administration of grade 3 MLP in the Sub County are registered by the TSC;
3). Ensure all headteachers download and print copies of Grade 3 MLP tools and upload the learners scores online upon completion of marking and scoring;
4). Ensure discipline of Head teachers and teachers during conduct the of grade 3 MLP;
5). Quality assure the conduct of grade 3 MLP progress within the Sub County.
6). Brief headteachers and Education Officers jointly with the Sub county Director of Education.
Curriculum Support Officer (CSO)
The Curriculum Support Officer in liaison with the TSC Sub county Director is responsible to the Kenya National Examinations Council for the successful administration of grade 3 MLP tools in the Zone.
His/her duties include to:
1). Ensure that information and all circulars on the administration of grade 3 MLP tools is disseminated to schools;
2). Identify and bring to the attention of the Sub county Director Education schools with grade three learners that are not enrolled and coded by KNEC;
3). Follow up with the Sub county Director Education to ensure that the schools are coded and password issued;
4). Ensure that all grade 3 learners in both public and private primary schools within their zones are enrolled for grade 3 MLP (Schools offering KICD Curriculum);
5). Ensure all schools fill the e-readiness questionnaire online and submit it to KNEC immediately;
6). Identify schools that might face challenges during the administration of grade 3 MLP and advise KNEC through the office of the Sub county Director of Education or TSC Sub county Director on how to handle the challenge (especially dissemination of the tools/ materials for SNE learners);
7). Ensure that all headteachers download and print copies of tools for the learners and upload the learners’ scores online upon completion of marking and scoring;
8). Ensure headteachers and teachers perform their roles effectively during the administration of grade 3 monitoring of learners progress;
9). Quality assure the administration of grade 3 monitoring of learners’ progress within their Zones and report any challenges experienced to the TSC Sub County Director;
10). Participate in the briefing of headteachers which will be conducted by the TSC Sub County Directors and Sub –County Director of Education on the administration of grade 3 MLP tools.
11). Prepare a report on the administration of grade 3 MLP tools and give recommendations for future improvement.
The Head teacher
The Head teacher has a personal responsibility to ensure that grade 3 monitoring of learners progress in the school is carried out according to the KNEC guidelines. In this regard, the head teacher shall perform the following roles related to the monitoring of learners progress.
1). Ensure that the school is registered by the Ministry of Education and has a valid registration certificate;
2). Ensure that the school is registered and coded by KNEC for purposes of administration of grade 3 MLP only;
3). Ensure the school is issued with a username and password by KNEC for purposes of accessing the grade 3 Portal for grade 3 learners;
4). Enroll grade 3 learners by uploading their bio data onto KNEC grade 3 Portal;
5). Verify and confirm that the learners’ details are correctly captured in the KNEC grade 3 database (including learners with special needs in education);
6). Ensure the that the e-readiness questionnaire is filled and submitted to KNEC online;
7). Ensure the head teacher’s administrative feedback questionnaire is filled and submitted to KNEC at the end of the administration of the tools;
8). Receive circulars on administration of grade 3 MLP tools from KNEC through the TSC Sub County Director;
9). Ensure rehearsal is done in preparation for the administration of the Grade 3 MLP tools;
10). Ensure the grade 3 MLP tools are downloaded and copies printed for all the learners as per the instructions;
11). Ensure the school has a secure storage room or lockable cabinet for the storage of the tools and portfolios;
12). Ensure the tools/ materials are securely stored and availed to class teacher as per the timetable;
13). Brief the class teachers on the conduct of grade 3 monitoring of learners’ progress using the guidelines provided by KNEC;
14). Be present in the school when the assessment is in progress to ensure smooth administration of the MLP tools;
15). Handover the MLP tasks to the class teacher as per the scheduled instructions;
16). Monitor the progress / conduct of Grade 3 MLP;
17). Ensure the learners’ work is marked, scored and scores uploaded on the KNEC grade 3 Portal;
18). Report to the Curriculum Support Officer any challenges experienced during downloading, printing, marking, scoring and uploading learners scores;
NB:New schools coded by KNEC for purposes of enrolling grade 3 learners will not automatically qualify to be 2020 KCPE examination centres. Such schools are advised to follow the normal procedure for consideration as KCPE examination centres.
The Role of Subject Teacher
The class teacher is expected to perform the following roles during the administration of grade 3 learners assessment tools.
1). Receive instructions and guidelines for the administration of grade 3 MLP tools from the headteacher;
2). Brief the learners on what is expected of them during the administration of grade 3 monitoring tools;
3). Ensure the classrooms are well arranged and free of stimulus materials i.e. have no writings on the walls;
4). Ensure proper sitting arrangement of the learners during the administration of grade 3 MLP tools. This should be done on the day of rehearsal.
5). Receive from the head teacher all the materials/equipment required to administer the tools i.e. MLP tools/tasks, wall clock(s), bell, stapler, staple pins, chalk and duster.
6). Administer the MLP tools as per the guidelines and instructions issued by KNEC;
7). Prevent malpractices during the administration of the MLP tools to grade learners.
8). Mark, score, fill the score sheet and upload the learners’ scores on the KNEC grade 3 portal.
9). Hand over score sheets to the headteacher upon completion of the marking and uploading of learners’ scores on the KNEC grade 3 portal;
10). Assist the headteacher to fill the online questionnaire on the administration of Grade 3 MLP tools in the school.
11). Ensure that the learners’ portfolios are properly kept and easily retrievable.
12). Ensure that the rooms used by the learners during the administration of grade 3 MLP tasks are:
Clean, well ventilated and free from any stimulus materials;
Adequately spaced not to allow copying from each other;
Ensure adequate facilities are available; this includes desks, wall clock, and seats;
Professional Misconduct
The personnel involved in the administration of Grade 3 MLP tools are expected to adhere to the guidelines issued by KNEC. Any teacher who contravenes these guidelines shall be dealt with according to TSC Act, code of ethics and regulations.
Courtesy of the Kenya National Examinations Council, knec.
