Primary School Teachers To Be Assigned Learning Areas In JSS
Alternative strategies have been developed by primary school headteachers who simultaneously serve as junior secondary school (JSS) principals to guarantee that learning continues in Grade 7 courses.
This comes after it was discovered that no learning took place in Grade 7 classes for the entire previous term.
While learning was generally easy in junior high schools that were private, this was not the case in most junior high schools that were public.
The headteachers are now assigning primary school teachers subjects to teach in those courses to alleviate the under teaching in Grade 7.
35,550 teachers were hired by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to assist with junior secondary classrooms.
TSC also sent out 7,400 primary school teachers to help junior secondary students study more, although this number is still little in comparison to the enormous number of students, courses, and streams.
The principals are currently giving teachers courses for Grade 7. To properly support the senior students, certain teachers are also prohibited from instructing in the primary grades.
Teachers with substantial training in a variety of fields are also being used by the school administrators to assist in instructing the students.
Computer science classes are attended by tech experts, and they are taught by those with extensive knowledge of CRE, IRE, agriculture, etc.
The Grade 7 students will take national assessment exams commencing in July, according to the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec).
Two forms for the School Based Assessment (SBA) will be offered. Exams will be available in two formats: PDF (where they will be printed) and Digita (where students will login to access them on a digital device).
The Knec circular on the evaluation of Grade 7 students in July, which was made public by Knec CEO David Njengere, is provided below.
RE: ADMINISTRATION OF THE YEAR 2023 GRADE 7 AND PREVOCATlONAL LEVEL SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT
1.0 The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will upload on the KNEC CBA portal the School Based Assessment tools for Grade 7 (age based pathway) and Pre-Vocational Level (stage based pathway).
2.0 To access the assessment portal, Headteachers are required to login onto the CBA portal: https://cba.knec.ac.ke. Any school that will have password challenges should contact their respective Sub-county Director of Education for resetting of the password.
3.0 Schools will be expected to administer the assessment tools, score and upload the assessment outcomes of all learners on the CSA portal.
4.0 SBA tools for Grade 7 will be provided in two formats: PDF format and digital format through the CBA portal https://cba.knec.ac.ke as follows:
4.1 PDF Format
4.1.1 Schools will be required to log in using the school credentials. (Username and password).
4.1.2 Schools will access the tools in PDF format and download.
4.1.3 The tools will then be given to learners in either print format, projected on the screen or written on the board.
4.1.4 Depending on the format adopted, learners may write their responses on the question paper or on the provided writing materials provided by the school.
4.2 Digital format
4.2.1 To access the tools in this format, individual leaners will be required to log onto the portal using their respective assessment numbers.
4.2.2 Upon logging in, learners will access the tools directly via digital devices such as the Digital Learning Programme (DLP) tablets available in schools.
4.2.3 Learners will be expected to give their responses on writing materials provided by the school.
5.0 The two formats of assessment tools wlll be displayed on the CBA portal dashboard using different buttons. Schools are encouraged to allow learners access the tools directly using the DLPs or any other available digital devices such as desktop computer and laptops. This will help schools save on printing cost. Those who may have challenges with the direct access may opt for the pdf format
6.0 SBA tools for Pre-Vocational Level will be accessed on PDF format by their teachers.
7.0 Teachers will assess the learners as they undertake the performance-based tasks and score using the guidelines provided in the tool.
8.0 A detailed user manual describing step by step on how to access the tools, instructions, scoring guides and how to upload learners’ scores is available on the CBA portal.
9.0 The assessment tools with coloured Images should be printed in colour or loaded on the digital devices available In the school. The learners should answer the questions using separate answer sheets provided by the school. In schools where the digital devices are Inadequate, the assessments can be done in shifts.
10.0 Headteachers are requested to keep all records and evidence generated from the assessments.
11.0 The materials required for the assessments should be obtained from the immediate school environment or Improvised as much as possible.
This information is to enable you to prepare and plan adequately.
DR. DAVID NJENGERE, MBS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Primary School Teachers To Be Assigned Learning Areas In JSS
