Lodwar, 24th February, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Turkana County Early childhood Education Officers and Refugee Curriculum Support Officers have undergone intensive training on digital literacy on Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) aimed at transforming ECDE assessment practices across Turkana County.

The five-day training, supported by UNICEF and facilitated by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and Kenya National Examination Council(KNEC) adopts a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) approach. It seeks to strengthen assessment methods for both host and refugee pre primary school learners while enhancing technological skills in ECDE.

Participants were also equipped with knowledge on the Basic Education Curriculum Framework and the CBA framework.

Chief Officer for ECDE and Social Protection, Paul Lodung’a, lauded UNICEF for supporting the initiative. He acknowledged that Competency-Based Education (CBE) and Competency-Based Training (CBT) remain significant gaps in Turkana despite being essential components of quality education.

“We should push for a holistic and learner-centred approach to assessment that does not place learners under pressure or unhealthy competition,” he said, noting that the training will help nurture quality teachers capable of positively shaping learners’ perceptions.

UNICEF Education Specialist Agnes Ngonyo emphasized the need to continuously build teachers’ capacity, urging a strong foundation in CBE is very important before advancing to digital literacy integration.

She explained that CBE focuses on competencies and value-based assessment rather than exam-driven evaluation, encouraging child-centred and play-based learning approaches.

The training will enable teachers to interpret the Curriculum designs for pre-primary, develop CBA tools, understand the Basic Education Curriculum Framework, support learners’ social and emotional development, and improve learner progress reporting.