KNEC Announces Grade 9 National Assessment for JSS Students
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is gearing up for the Grade 9 assessment for students completing Junior Secondary School (JSS).
This assessment, known as the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), marks a significant step in evaluating student performance at this level.
For students with severe disabilities, a specialized examination called the Kenya Prevocational Learning Education Assessment (KPLEA) will be administered.
The national assessment planned for next year will contribute to the final scores of JSS students.
The KNEC CEO, David Njengere, clarified that the school-based formative assessment will account for 40% of the total score, while the summative assessments (KJSEA and KPLEA) will contribute 60%.
This approach aims to reduce the pressure of a high-stakes exam at the end of the academic cycle by incorporating assessments conducted in Grades 7 and 8.
Data Collection and Environmental Factors
As part of the assessment preparations, KNEC will implement a study across schools nationwide.
This study will collect data from learners, teachers, and headteachers to understand environmental and school-based factors influencing student performance.
The data will help KNEC prepare more effectively for the summative assessment.
Grade 8 students, who are the first cohort under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), will progress to Grade 9 next year, completing their JSS education.
Following this, they will transition to Senior Secondary School (SSS), which comprises Grades 10, 11, and 12. At the SSS level, students will select their career pathways based on their assessment outcomes.
The JSS level assessments aim to provide feedback on students’ learning progress and identify their potential, guiding the selection of pathways in SSS.
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According to the Ministry of Education’s JSS guidelines, the results from both formative and summative assessments will contribute to the final reporting at the end of Grade 9, with the specific ratio determined by KNEC.
Summary Table
| Assessment Type | Contribution to Total Score |
|---|---|
| Formative (School-Based) | 40% |
| Summative (KJSEA/KPLEA) | 60% |
