Partnership in secondary school assessment examinations and Kenya certificate of secondary education examinations: dilemma in evaluation

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research that investigated the difference in performance between partnerships in secondary school assessment examinations and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary examinations (KCSE) among selected Secondary Schools in the Western region of Kenya. These exams have been very prevalent in Western Kenya Secondary Schools as a way of preparing form four students for KCSE. This high prevalence made it necessary for this research to be carried out to establish the nature of their relationship with KCSE performance. The study focused on six schools in the Western region of Kenya that were engaged in partnership assessments. The study was descriptive in nature and the intra-national case study research design was used with a focus on secondary schools in western region. Purposive sampling was used to select the six secondary schools. Document Analysis was done on past records such as scores in partnership exams and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination Scores. The data collected was analyzed using a mixed method. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and T-test were used to establish whether there was any significant difference between partnership exams and K.C.S.E performance. The study found out that there was a significant difference in performance between partnership exams and KCSE in selected schools in western region. The study recommended partnership examinations as a way of preparing candidates for KCSE