In a bid to explore the interests and pathways of Grade 9 students as they enter into senior school, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) will start administering questionnaires.
In a statement on Thursday, December 19, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere announced that apart from the achievement assessments that are already administered at grade 9, students will now also be undertaking the questionnaires to shape their future.
“Apart from achievement assessments, we will also administer a questionnaire to Grade 9 learners to explore their interests and other personal attributes that will speak to the kind of pathways and tracks that they will pursue in Senior School,” Njengere informed.
The body aims to ensure that a student chooses only the path they want for their future and nothing forcefully imposed on them.
A file image of students sitting for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.
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The CEO was speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement on the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE).
Njengere challenged the stakeholders to trust the ability of teachers to administer the School Based Assessments (SBAs) since they have been doing it since 2019.
“Since 2019, teachers have been administering these SBAs and I can assure you that we’ve been getting a normal curve, which shows that the teachers are very objective and professional,” Njengere assured.
As the country gears up to the grade 9 evaluation next year, KNEC has taken a section of teachers for a seminar to familiarize them with the new national assessment formula.
The teachers were picked from 235 schools that participated in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) pilot program last year.
The seminar is aimed to gather feedback from teachers, school heads, and students with a learner questionnaire being used to gauge academic preferences and personality traits.
“This assessment is an essential tool for identifying each learner’s potential and guiding them toward a path that suits their interests and skills,” Anne Ngatia, KNEC’s Director of Research and Innovation reiterated.
KJSEA aims to play a significant role in shaping students’ future career paths. This move is part of the broader goal to ensure that the education system is more aligned with learners’ strengths, skills, talents, and aspirations.
Upon grade 9 also known as Junior Secondary School, students will progress to Senior Secondary School (SSS) where they will select their career path.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) offices in Nairobi.
Photo KNEC