This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
Published on August 13, 2019, the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) announced plans to introduce national exams for class three pupils under the new Competency-Based Curriculum.
According to Knec's acting CEO, Mercy Karogo, the national test will be administered at the end of each tier of education in the 2-6-3-3-3 system. This means that grade three pupils will sit a national exam at the end of the year before joining grade four.
The exam, known as the Kenya Early Years Assessment (KEYA), will assess learners in three areas: English, Mathematics, and Integrated Learning Areas. The assessment will integrate knowledge from different disciplines and will be administered in three assessments.
Dr. Karogo explained that learners will be assessed using a portfolio assessment for about two months. A portfolio is a purposeful collection of learners' work that shows effort, progress, and mastery of a specified learning outcome or competency.
The Competency-Based Assessment Framework (CBAF) has been developed to guide the assessment process. The framework emphasizes the use of key inquiry questions for each topic and encourages learners to engage in critical thinking on issues rather than just recalling information.
