Grade 3 test will go on for whole term, says Magoha
The ongoing national assessment for the 1.3 million learners in Grade Three, under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will go on for the rest of the term, Education Cabinet secretary said Friday.
He dismissed as misleading claims that the exercise was due to kick off on Monday saying the tests have already started in all schools across the country without a hitch, adding that some schools have even forwarded results to the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec).
The CS, however, clarified that the reported Monday assessment will be the classroom exam to enable teachers evaluate the pupils and map out areas to put an emphasis on when they move to the next grade.
“We are not examining the children, we are only trying to assess their abilities and how to help us to move with them in the next classes,” he said.
He said the test is only being done in mathematics, English and Integrated Learning activities to test a child's holistic skills (interaction, problem-solving, observation and critical thinking).
Speaking after monitoring the assessment exercise at Joytown School for the Physically Disabled in Thika, Kiambu county, the CS said the exercise is simple and less expensive for the government saying teachers can comfortably download the tasks from Knec portal and copy them on blackboard for the pupils to read.
“You don’t need to photocopy many copies, you can print one and write it on the blackboard and it’s not a question of Monday to Friday, it will continue until the end of the term,” he said.
He said the exercise demands that every teacher in every school to do the assessment without prejudice, adding that the CBC system is all accommodative and will help pupils to make use of their talent.
“I believe that every child including the ones who are not well endowed, will benefit from CBC,” he said.
Magoha, who toured several schools in Thika, accused Kiambu County Education officers for failing to distribute literacy books for the new curriculum to most of the schools, including Joytown.
