The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for 2024 has been a significant event in the Kenyan educational calendar, marking the first assessment under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) framework. Here’s an expanded look at the release of the 2024 KPSEA reports:
Overview of KPSEA 2024:
- Purpose: KPSEA serves to assess the competency levels of Grade 6 learners as they transition to Junior Secondary School. It replaces the traditional Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) under the CBC system, focusing on monitoring learning progress rather than determining school placements.
- Examination Dates: The exams were conducted from October 28 to October 30, 2024, following a rehearsal on October 25, 2024.
- Subjects Covered: The assessment included Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Integrated Science, and Social Studies & Creative Arts. Notably, there was no creative writing component like English Composition or Kiswahili Insha.
Release of Reports:
- Announcement: The Ministry of Education announced the release of the KPSEA reports on January 7, 2025, with an immediate directive for schools to access these reports through the KNEC Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal.
- Accessing Reports:
- Schools are required to log in using their specific credentials (school KNEC code as username and an assessment number as the password) on the CBA portal (https://cba.knec.ac.ke/).
- The portal provides three types of reports:
- Individual Reports: Detailed feedback on each learner’s performance in each subject.
- School-Specific Reports: Analysis of the school’s overall performance.
- National Reports: Insights for educational improvements at a national level.
- Purpose of Reports: These reports are intended to:
- Provide feedback to parents, learners, and educators about performance and areas needing improvement.
- Inform curriculum adjustments and educational strategies.
- Support the transition of learners to Junior Secondary School by highlighting their competencies.
Key Points:
- No Public Ceremony: In line with the CBC’s aim to reduce competition around exam results, there was no public ceremony for the release of KPSEA results, unlike with KCPE.
- Automatic Transition: All candidates who sat for KPSEA automatically transition to Junior Secondary School, regardless of their scores, focusing on skill development over ranking.
- Support for Schools: The Ministry, through KNEC, KICD, and TSC, commits to assisting schools in interpreting these reports for better educational outcomes.
- Technology Use: The marking was facilitated by Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology for efficient and accurate assessment of multiple-choice questions.
Public and Educational Response:
- Educational Community: There’s a mix of relief and anticipation as schools receive detailed feedback for the first time under the CBC, allowing for targeted educational support.
- Public Sentiment: Posts on X reflect a community eager to understand and utilize the new assessment system for educational betterment.
This year’s KPSEA results are pivotal as they represent the first cohort assessed entirely under the CBC, setting the tone for future educational assessments in Kenya. The focus is on fostering a learning environment that emphasizes competencies over rote learning, aiming for a more holistic education system.