By S, KNA
The Government is adequately prepared to ensure smooth transition to Grade 10 for learners sitting this year’s Kenya Junior School Education Assessment(KJSEA).
Central Regional Director of Education, Sabina Aroni, says all measures needed in ensuring the smooth transition for the learners have been put into place and, therefore, there is no need for worry from parents.
The education official who was addressing pupils at Tetu Girls Boarding Primary School also assured learners sitting for the other assessments tests including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education (KCSE) that there will be no co-curricular activities in all schools to avoid unnecessary interruptions during the exam period.
Aroni explained that unlike the first and the second terms where students were involved in co-curriculum activities like sports and music festivals, the third term will be devoid of any additional activity to enable teachers to clear the syllabus and prepare learners for their respective transitions next year.
“Many people are wondering about transition to Grade 10 but we are giving assurance that the Government has prepared adequately. The schools are submitting the enrollment. We have collected the enrollment of Grade 9 and the subject combination of Grade 10 has also been collected from the Senior Schools so that textbooks can be distributed before learners join Grade 10 next year.” she remarked.
A total of 1.2 million Grade 9 learners across the country will be sitting for KJSEA examinations between October 27 and November 6 this year.
The candidates are going to form the first batch of learners under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) to transition to Senior Secondary School next year.
Apart from KCSE, which will be administered between November 3 and November 21, other learners will be sitting for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment(KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment(KILEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA).
“This is a short term, a nine-week term and it is a busy one. We expect to have a relatively calm term because every other stakeholder from the school management, the teacher to the students will be focusing towards preparing for the national examinations at the end of this year. We shall be administering four examinations in total and essentially as for the rest of the students they will have closed school by October 27 and open on January 2 2026,” she told KNA.
Sabina also took time to encourage candidates who will be taking the assessment papers to prepare properly for the tests but cautioned them against panicking over the same.
She said unlike in the now defunct 8-4-4 system passing exams was highly prized, the current system leans towards individual competency.
“Our communication to you is that the Government through the established mechanisms has planned to do everything for you so that the assessment is carried out in the manner that will be beneficial to you prepare for your future .To those who will be taking the assessment you are well prepared and you are encouraged not to fear because the assessment is only to prepare you to move to the next Grade .The Government changed the curriculum so that we stop competing with one another and we stop competing with other institutions that learners can compete with themselves and become the better versions of themselves academically,” she assured the pupils.
Recently Aroni called organized a stakeholders’ forum for players the education sector to ensure the third school term runs seamlessly.
She emphasized that with the learners having only nine weeks of study before sitting for exams there is need for all concerned parties to work closely to ensure the learning environment in schools is conducive for all students.
The education boss also highlighted that the Government had on its part put all necessary structures and modalities in place to ensure both learning and administration of internal and national exams would run smoothly.