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Assessment for Grade Four and Class Eight kicks off today as the Ministry of Education seeks to identify learning gaps and suggest interventions after the seven-month break occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The assessment was to start on Monday but was pushed to today because of the Mashujaa Day celebrations held yesterday at the Gusii Stadium in Kisii county.

Assessment will run from today to October 26. Standard Eight assessment will be taken in three days in all Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination subjects.

Students are expected to begin with Mathematics, English language and composition on the first day.

Science, Kiswahili language and Insha will be done on the second day while Social Studies and Religious Studies will be taken on the third day.

On the other hand, Grade Four assessment will be conducted for four days with English learning, speaking and reading set for the first day.

On the second day, learners will be assessed in English reading comprehension; grammar and writing for one hour and 20 minutes, while those with special needs will be tested for one hour and 50 minutes.

Other areas of assessment for Grade Four are environmental activities, science and technology as one paper.

On the third day, learners will be assessed on Kiswahili listening, speaking and reading aloud while Kiswahili grammar and writing will be taken on the fourth day.

The Ministry of Education said teachers at school level will administer the assessments. 

“While the assessments have been developed by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), the ministry wishes to note that these are not examinations.

They will be administered and scored by teachers,” the ministry explained last week.

Schools are, however, expected to make appropriate preparations for the assessment.

Last week, KNEC acting Chief Executive Dr Mercy Karogo, in a circular to all head teachers, said that Class Eight and Grade Four assessments will be administered in all public and private schools while the remaining classes which are yet to reopen will be conducted upon resumption of classes for specific groups.

Learning process

Unlike national examinations, the ministry explained that assessments are part of the learning process, administered to provide required information to adjust teaching and learning and are not to be used for placement. 

Similarly, they are flexible and can take a variety of forms, such as authentic tasks.

“Assessments are used to monitor learner progress and provide empirical data upon which focused interventions can be hinged.

They are continuous, given during learning, and after learning to establish how well learners are acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes stipulated in the curriculum and allow for focused interventions,” the ministry said.

KNEC provided guidelines within which respective schools will undertake the assessment.

According to the council, the assessment portal will be accessible immediately after opening of schools to enable head teachers to capture and upload bio data of learners in Grades One to Three and Standard Five to Seven, including class, name, year of birth, gender and disabilities, if any.

The council stated that the assessment will serve as end of term or formative assessments and will be conducted in similar conditions across schools.

Prior to the actual exercise, KNEC said head teachers will be required to download assessment schedules, advance instructions for Mathematics for Grade Four and advance instructions on assessment of learners with special needs.

As far as preparation is concerned, the council said institutional Covid-19 response committees must ensure preparedness and compliance to protocols.

On each day of assessment, head teachers will be expected to inspect classrooms to ensure health and safety of teachers and learners.

Teachers on the other hand will ensure there are no stimulus materials in the classroom.

Teachers are to confirm attendance of learners, account for any absentees and brief them on the conduct of assessment.

In particular, teachers must inform the learners that assessments are not examinations,” the guidelines state.

Once they resume Classes Five and Six, learners will be assessed in Mathematics, English, Kiswahili and Science.

Grades One to Three will be assessed in Fundamental Literacy (English and Kiswahili) and Numeracy (Mathematical activities).