Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) CEO Charles Ong’ondo has revealed the criteria to be used in the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for Grade Six candidates to join junior secondary schools at the national and county level.
This is after the national-based examination, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) was abolished in the CBC.
Ong’ondo stated that the new curriculum would entail a balance between formative and summative assessment.
He added that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) would develop a competency-based assessment framework to provide an effective way to gauge the students.
“The assessment for upper primary will be comprehensive to address mastery of multifarious competencies. The mode of assessment will entail a combination of teacher-administered formative assessment in Grades 4,5 and 6.
A summative assessment will be conducted by KNEC at the end of Grade 6.
According to the KICD boss, the formative assessment would take up 60 per cent whereas the summative assessment would account for 40 per cent of the total results.
Ong’ondo affirmed that the results would then be used to place the candidates in junior secondary schools.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) will then provide criteria for selection of learners to various schools as advised by the Taskforce on Access, Relevance, Transition, Equity and Quality.
The CBC curriculum has caused a panic among many parents who lamented over the new system. The parents argued that the expenses would be too demanding as well as the nature of assignments given to the students would be complicated.
KICD, however, addressed these complaints in a statement and affirmed that the CBC would be implemented in phases to address any emerging issues.
The agency also asked the parents to be patient with the new curriculum as all concerns would be addressed in due time.
