Grade 8 students to sit updated JSS assessment tomorrow as pilot starts

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) is kicking off a pilot programme tomorrow for a new test for junior secondary schools.

The test, known as the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), will be administered to Grade 9 students next year.

But the pilot programme will involve Grade 8 students who are also the pioneer class of the new curriculum. The trials, which commence tomorrow, will help determine how the KJSEA will be administered.

Knec Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said data from the trials will be used to refine the KJSEA before its official rollout next year. 

“This will ensure a smooth transition for students under CBC and a more holistic assessment of their academic abilities and interests,” Njengere said on Friday during a press briefing at the New Mtihani House in Nairobi.

The five-day pilot programme will involve 5,875 students from 235 schools across Kenya. This group includes both regular learners (5,125) and those with special needs (750).

The pilot will assess students on nine subjects, grouped into seven papers. 

The subjects include English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Agriculture & Nutrition, Religious Education, Creative Arts & Sports, and Pre-Technical Studies.

The first group of students under this curriculum is currently in Grade 8, meaning they will be the first cohort to sit the KJSEA next year. 

The assessment will make up 60 per cent of the student's final score as they exit Junior Secondary School, while the remaining 40 per cent will be derived from the class-based assessments issued by teachers.

But despite the vital weight bestowed on the assessment, Njengere emphasised the need to put an end to the high stakes placed on national examinations under the 8-4-4 education curriculum.

“The strategy is to move away from high-stakes exams to how they have been acquiring competencies…we are moving to KJSEA and reduce the stakes,” Njengere said.

The pilot assessment itself will come in four variations. Most students will take a traditional written test, whereas 30 schools will participate in a virtual assessment to gauge students' digital literacy skills.

For special needs students, they will have their testing formats divided into two to cater for those with severe and mild disability.

Students with mild disabilities will receive a similar test to regular students (without disability) but customised to meet their specific needs. For instance, visually impaired students may use enlarged print or braille.

On the other hand, the assessment of students with severe disability, also known as Pre-vocational assessment, will focus on equipping them with practical skills for daily life.

"This is the first time we are testing learners with severe disability. Previously there was no way to test these learners," Njengere said.

The results of the assessment, Knec Director Research and Innovation Anne Ngatia said, will be crucial for students' future. 

"Assessment outcomes will contribute to final reporting at the end of Grade 9, used for placement in Senior School," said Ms Ngatia.

Njengere also indicated that teachers from neighbouring schools will administer the pilot test. The pilot will also explore the feasibility of the national assessment on a larger scale. 

Knec will also be conducting a study to understand student interests. A learner questionnaire will be used to gauge their personality and academic preferences.

But the trials will involve more than just testing students as subject teachers will also provide feedback on the assessment tools, commenting on how well they align with learning objectives and suit the students' grade level. 

School heads, too, will be surveyed about overall administration of the assessment and teacher preparedness.