Headteachers in certain parts of the country have voiced their frustrations with the new system as Grade 4 tests kicked off on Monday, 8, 2021.
Many of the tutors complained about slow internet speeds as well as the high cost of printing the required assessment materials.
In some areas, the teachers have experienced network downtime on the KNEC Learning Continuity in the Basic Education portal since Sunday, making it difficult to download and print the test material.
"The KNEC portal is slow. It is a challenge to access the tests," a headteacher in Kisumu stated.
In other areas, the teachers disclosed that they walked long distances to get a reliable internet network due because their institutions were in areas with low connectivity.
In Samburu, for example, cyber cafes experienced long queues with headteachers travelling over up to 100 Kilometres to upload the assessment tools.
A section of headteachers in Nyeri county faulted the delay in the release of funds by the Ministry of Education noting that they had to spend their own money to print materials so as to administer the tests on time.
In Tana River county, some schools did not administer the tests as some students skipped school on Mondays.
The Grade 4 assessments will form 20 percent of the final Grade 6 mark under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Teachers are required to upload the tests on the CBC assessment portal between March 8 and 19.
Each learner in the database will be issued with an assessment number automatically generated by the Council ICT system.
The number will be used to identify the learners during future assessments.
KNEC had earlier advised teachers to improvise the materials required for performing the assessment tasks within the immediate school environment.
