Overview of Assessment of JSS
Assessment for the JSS will be referred to as Kenya Junior Secondary Education assessment (KJSEA). At Pre-Vocational level, the assessment will be referred to as Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA)..
5.2 Purpose of Assessment
Assessment at JSS and Pre-Vocational level shall serve the following purposes:
- Providing feedback on acquisition of competencies to the learner, teacher, parents/guardians, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Monitoring the achievement of learning outcomes at both individual and group levels.
- Informing policy makers and curriculum developers on areas to target for appropriate intervention.
- Facilitating the teacher to improve instructional strategies and approaches.
- Identifying gaps in the provision of resources that support implementation of curriculum.
- Informing parents and guardians on learners’ educational needs/areas for support or intervention.
- Encouraging learners to develop skills of self and peer assessment and to be responsible for own learning.
- Identifying and nurturing learners’ potential and talents.
- Informing transition and selection of pathways in SSS and Vocational level.
- Assessing possible extraneous and intervening factors and their impact on learner achievement.
- Certification and/or transitional report at the end of Grade 9 (KJSEA) and Pre-Vocational Level (KPLEA).
The Assessment Cycle in JSS
Assessment at JSS and Pre-Vocational level will conform to the key stages of the cycle as outlined in Figure 3.
Figure 3: KNEC Assessment Cycle
Subjects for Assessment at Junior Secondary School and Pre-Vocational Level
At JSS, learners will be assessed in all the 12 core subjects and one or two optional subjects as stipulated in the Curriculum Designs; while learners at the Pre- Vocational level will be assessed in 9 subjects as indicated in Tables 7 and 8.
Table 7: Subjects for Assessment at Junior Secondary School Level
| Core Subjects | (b) Optional Subjects | ||
| 1. | English | 1 | Visual Arts |
| 2. | Kiswahili or KSL | 2 | Performing Arts |
| 3. | Mathematics | 3 | Home Science |
| 4. | Integrated Science | 4 | Computer Science |
| 5. | Health Education | 5 | Foreign Languages: German/ French Mandarin |
| 6. | Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education | 6 | Arabic |
| 7. | Social Studies | 7 | Kenyan Sign Language |
| 8. | Religious Education (Learners choose one of the following CRE, IRE or HRE) | 8 | Indigenous Language |
| 9 | Business Studies | ||
| 10. | Agriculture | ||
| 11. | Life Skills | ||
| 12. | Sports and Physical Education |
Table 8: Subjects for Assessment at Pre-Vocational Level
| S/No | Pre-Vocational Skills |
| 1. | Communication, Social and Literacy Skills |
| 2. | Daily Living Skills |
| 3. | Mathematics Activities |
| 4. | Music and Movement |
| 5. | Religious Education: |
| 6. | Christian Religious Education |
| 7. | Hindu Religious Education |
| 8. | Islamic Religious Education |
| 9. | Physical and Health Education |
| 10. | Hygiene, Nutrition and Safety |
| 11. | Environmental Activities |
| 12. | Social Studies. |
