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In the new competency-based curriculum (CBC) being implemented in Kenya, traditional examination emphasis is being reduced in favor of assessing what learners can do.
To differentiate levels of competency, a new grading system has been introduced.
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This system includes four levels: Exceeding Expectations (EE), Meeting Expectations (ME), Approaching Expectations (AE), and Below Expectations (BE).
The CBC is currently being rolled out in basic education and middle-level colleges.
Additionally, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions use a similar system, with grading based on mastery, proficiency, competence, and not yet competent.
CBC Grading System in Basic Education
| Marks (%) | Grade | Initial |
|---|---|---|
| 76-100 | Exceeding Expectation | EE |
| 51-75 | Meeting Expectation | ME |
| 26-50 | Approaching Expectation | AE |
| 0-25 | Below Expectation | BE |
Exceeding Expectation (EE)
The learner’s performance is well above the expected standard for the grade. This means the learner has excellent performance.
Meeting Expectation (ME)
The learner’s performance is at the expected standard for the grade. This means it is a good performance.
Approaching Expectation (AE)
The learner’s performance is on track towards the expected standard of the activity. This is a fair grade.
Below Expectation (BE)
The performance of the activity given is below the expected standards. This is a grade of poor or fail. The learner needs to be guided further to meet the expected outcome.
CBET Grading System in TVET
In Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the CBC curriculum implementation is known as Competency-based Training (CBET).
This approach involves developing the curriculum from occupational standards established by experts in specific industries.
Industry experts provide guidelines on the requirements for specific occupations, and trainees are then skilled accordingly and tested.
The CBET grading system aims to assess the level of competency in given tasks.
For instance, if you’re training to be a plumber, the system evaluates how well you can perform tasks such as fixing a leaking pipe.
It determines whether you possess basic skills or if you have mastered the competency required for the task.
The grades in the TVET CBET grading system are categorized into four levels.
| Marks (%) | Grade |
|---|---|
| 80-100 | Mastery |
| 65-79 | Proficiency |
| 50-64 | Competent |
| 30-49 | Not Yet Competent |
| 0-29 | Not Yet Competent |
Mastery
This is where the trainee has a mastery of the activity they are given to perform. They have performed the skill with excellence.
Proficiency
The trainee is good at the assigned skill; they may not have mastered all that is required for the skill, but they are very good.
Competent
The student can do the minimum requirements of the task assigned. They are not that good but they can perform the task. With time and more practice, they can perform better.
Not yet competent
This means the student has not attained the basic requirements of the task and they cannot perform it as expected. This means the task was performed below the expected standard of that task. The trainee needs more guidelines to meet the expected standards.
While the CBC curriculum aims to shift away from an examination-focused approach in Kenyan schools, it still necessitates a method for categorizing students.
This is vital for tracking their progression from one level to another and guiding them towards suitable educational paths.
Similarly, for TVET graduates, employers must distinguish between those who excel at assigned tasks and those who perform at an average level. Ranking and categorization remain integral to social structures, even in education, as they facilitate effective placement and skill assessment.
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