Gov’t abolishes interviews in primary school admissions

The Ministry of Education has developed a tool that will eliminate academic tests and interviews as a condition of joining standard one.

The tool, code-named the Kenya School Readiness Assessment Tool (KSRAT) and Assessors Guide, will now be used to assess what a learner about to join primary school is able to do in line with their age and development.

Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i said the government will not compromise the quality of education by allowing commercial tests to be administered in public learning institutions.

“This is tantamount to child abuse and defrauding the parents of hard-earned money besides the negative impact the practice has on the children,” Dr. Matiang’i said in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang during the launch of the tool at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).

Matiang’i said the use of the tool will improve educational efficiency and reduce the chances of failure in primary schools and beyond.

The CS appealed to the county governments, partners and education stakeholders to ensure implementation and sustainability of KSRAT in learning institutions

“I call upon county governments and development partners to provide financial and material support to ensure continuous printing of the assessment tool for all the children aged between five to six years transiting to primary one from now henceforth.”

The national chairperson of the County Education Executives Caucus (CEC), Dr. Jamleck Muturi said they will do all they can to implement the tool in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) schools within their respective jurisdictions.

Under Section 34(4) of the Basic Education Act, 2012, no public school shall administer any test related to admission of a child to a public school or cause a person to administer such test unless such a test is for purposes of placing the child at an appropriate level of education.

The Basic Education Regulations, 2015 protects learners transiting from pre-primary school to primary school of a parent’s or guardian’s choice from being subjected to any interview or admission fee except as provided for in section.