Safeguard integrity of learners’ assessments

The start today of the national assessments for learners presents a pivotal moment in the lives of thousands of young Kenyans, as these tests will largely determine their future career pathways. Schools are set for a smooth start, having already done the rehearsals for the Grade Six Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Grade Nine Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).

Candidates have been briefed on the assessments, and the invigilators are fully prepared for this vital national assignment. Education and security teams should put in place measures to ensure a conducive environment throughout the period.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) is working closely with county and national government officials, the police and village security committees to ensure the smooth running of the exercise. Preparations are being made to enhance the safeguarding of the integrity of these national tests, with tight security and monitoring of the exam papers.

This marks a major milestone for the learners under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system as the government prepares to transition the second cohort of junior school learners to senior school next year. According to the Knec, 1,380,463 candidates have registered for the KPSEA, while 1,206, 028 learners will sit the KJSEA, bringing the total number to 2,586,491.

The tests will largely shape the candidates’ future. But the CBE framework brings both immense promises and systemic bottlenecks. The transition from traditional, high-stakes rote testing to a pathways-based system has revealed key structural challenges.

A skills-based curriculum demands heavy resources to build science laboratories and acquire ICT equipment, music instruments, and sports gear. It is not easy, as the public schools struggle with delayed capitation funds from the National Treasury, leaving them unable to effectively handle practical pathways.

Despite the shift to the CBE model, the final national assessment component remains highly vulnerable to tech-based cheating. High-tech malpractices, specifically the smuggling of mobile phones into examination rooms, threaten the value of the results. The credibility of the assessments must be safeguarded.

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