The Education Ministry has issued a clarification over the confusion that resulted from the assessment tests for learners reporting back to school.
In a statement on Thursday, October 15, KNEC acting Chief Executive Mercy Kerogo stated that the tests are not national examinations, stating that the exercise was to establish the preparedness of the children to continue with the curriculum.
"While the assessments have been developed by KNEC, the Ministry wishes to note that these are not examinations. They will be administered and scored by teachers in institutions," the Ministry noted.
The examinations council gave headteachers and tutors instructions on how to conduct the assessments that will provide the required information to adjust teaching and learning.
"The assessments are formative and as such, teachers are expected to communicate the outcome to individual learners and parents at the end of the assessment.
"At the national level, the outcomes of the assessments shall be strictly for purposes of reporting on possible learning gaps and the effect of the pandemic on learning with a view to inform policy on interventions that need to be put in place," Kerogo observed.
The exams are expected to be flexible and can take a variety of forms, such as authentic tasks.
In the guidelines, teachers have been instructed to allow learners to complete the tests irrespective of the time allocated.
All schools will be supported through the Ksh1.5 billion aid issued by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the World Bank.
Schools will also be supported to print and administer the assessment tools according to the plan.
Grade Four and Class Eight pupils, who opened school on Monday, October 12, will begin their end of term one examinations from Monday, October 19.
Grade Four pupils will be assessed in English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Environmental activities and Science and Technology while Standard Eight pupils will be assessed in all KCPE subjects.
