Challenges Encountered During KPSEA Administration; KNEC Report

Challenges Encountered During KPSEA Administration. Samuel Ouko, Kenya National Examination Council Senior Examinations Officer, highlighted several challenges faced during the administration of the Grade 6 KPSEA tests in 2022 and 2023.

Speaking at the first Annual Symposium on Competency-Based Assessment in Nairobi, Ouko addressed issues such as teachers’ inability to evaluate assessment scores and reports effectively and a high rate of absenteeism among learners during assessments.

One of the main challenges mentioned by Ouko was teachers’ insufficient capacity to construct authentic assessment methods, which hinders students from adequately responding to the assessment assignments developed by KNEC. He stressed the importance of enhancing teachers’ capacity to develop their assessment tools.

Furthermore, Ouko noted the lack of technical staff or professional teachers in subjects such as Arts and Crafts, Music, Home Science, and Hindu Religious Education. He also raised concerns about the discrepancy between the number of students registered in Grade 3 and those who took the KPSEA in Grade 6, emphasizing the importance of schools registering learners as per assessment regulations.

Ouko explained that KPSEA consists of two assessments: the formative and the summative, with Grade 6 serving as an umbrella for both. The aim of the Grade 6 assessment is to track learners’ progress and provide suggestions for policy development, helping identify gaps and offer remedies to enhance instruction and performance in classrooms.

At the KPSEA summative level (Grade 6), students are required to individually respond to multiple-choice questions, while at the formative level, they can work individually or collaboratively to foster creativity using locally available learning materials.

After the examinations, KNEC evaluates results using four performance levels: Level 4 (performing above expectations), Level 3 (meeting expectations), Level 2 (approaching expectations), and Level 1 (performing below expectations).

Ouko highlighted the production of three reports following the KPSEA summative assessment: individual learner reports, school-specific reports, and the national report, currently in progress. These reports aim to provide comprehensive insights into learners’ performance and guide further improvements in the education system. Challenges Encountered During KPSEA Administration