A new system modeled on Continous Assessment Tests [CATs] will soon replace ranking of teachers, learners, schools and regions in both KCPE and KCSE according to the Cabinet Secretary for Education Science and Technology Prof Jacob Kaimenyi.
In the meantime, the ministry has constituted a team of experts to work out on an elaborate, credible and all-inclusive standard system that the management of schools would use in conducting the tests from the moment learners join school to the time they complete studies. This will include collaboration with the Education Ministry, the Examinations Council, Parents Association and Teachers Unions.
According to the Ministry’s plan, the accumulated marks awarded over a period of time in all areas of learning, including co-curriculum activities would count towards the final results when one leaves school either after KCPE or KCSE examinations. To achieve the best possible grading and desired results, those charged with implementing the new program would have to consider all the important aspects of administering CATs at various levels of learning and teaching. The new system which would be implemented any time soon will serve as an alternative after the recent banning of ranking on performance of schools and candidates in national examinations, though there have been calls from a section of parents, Kenya National Union of Teachers and The private Schools
Association to have the Minister rescind his decision on ranking.
It is worth noting that in the CATs program, learners are examined continuously during their education and results considered after leaving school. It is an evaluation conducted over time; in other words, you are examined right through your learning process and not after the learning process [summative evaluation].By doing this assessment, you can track the improvement of the learner; you will be able top give more support and guidance and the learner will have more opportunities to improve.
It has also been established that CATs can provide early indicators of likely performance of learners, something that can be of great help to the students themselves. It can also provide details of what has been learned at a particular stage of the course.
The CS said that after working out the new grading system for KCSE and KCPE candidates to be used by schools, the system would become a policy where KNEC will be left with no other choice but to make it operational to end the public outcry on scrapping franking of schools teachers, candidates and regions. However, we are waiting to see if the teachers, some of whom have been accused of perpetuating examinations’ vices, will uphold the integrity that is in doubt.
[Adapted from Education News:Jan 10-22, 2015]
(a) State what are normally compared after KCPE and KCSE have been announced. (2 marks)
(b) How is the new system going to ensure inclusivity before its inception? (2 marks)
(c) In note form, state four would be advantages of the new system. (4 marks)
(d) In what way are two mentioned systems different? (2 marks)
(e) It is worth noting that in the CAT program, learners are examined continuously during their education and results considered after leaving school.(Re-write adding a question tag)(1 mark)
(f) Show that the banning of ranking is not approved by all. (2 marks)
(g) Describe the writer’s attitude in the last paragraph. (3 marks)
(h) What procedure will be followed before the proposed systems begins? (2 marks)
(i) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage (2 marks)
Rescind
Integrity

(a) Explain what happens before and after the above extract. (4 marks)
(b) From elsewhere in the play, make notes of the sacrifices Grusha has had to make for Michael since “that Easter
Sunday in Nuka in the second couertyard. (4 marks)
(c) “He did it but I didn’t tell him anything “Who is being referred to as he? (1 mark)
(d) Give a trait for each of the characters below using the extract. (6 marks)
(i) Lavrenti
(ii) Grusha
(iii)Aniko
(e) Explain the significance of the song in the extract. (2 marks)
(f) Identify the use of irony in the extract. (2 marks)
(g) Explain any theme evident in the extract. (2 marks)
(h) Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions as used in the extract. (4 marks)
(i) Spring

(ii) Illegitimate
(iii)A man on paper
(iv) Cause a lot of fuss

A long time-ago there was a warrior whose bravery and handsome looks made all the girls of the village fall in love with him. Eight girls at least, were known to want to marry the young warrior, for they had composed many songs ion his praise.
Now this warrior was one time getting ready to go a long raid in a far away country. Before he set off for the raid, he called the youngest of his eight lovers and told her to put fresh milk in a small gourd. He also instructed her to keep checking on the colour of the milk every day.”Should the milk turn red, the warrior told the girl.’ it would mean that I have been killed or am seriously wounded’. The young girl was so touched by the departure of her lover that she composed the following song for him.

My warrior whom I love
For whom I open the sweet curdled
Milk of my father’s herd,
And to whom I give fat ram
Of my father to slaughter
To whom I give my slender
Thighs to lie on
With whom are you going on a raid next?

It happened that many days after the departure of the warrior, the girl ‘noticed the milk was turning red she wept bitterly for she knew that her lover was either dead or dying in a far away country. Without telling anyone the girl set off to look her dying lover.
For many days she travelled and as she walked through plains and forests she sang the song she had composed for her lost warrior she travelled on and as she travelled she checked the colour of the milk in the gourd. Each day that she saw the milk turn a little more red., she travelled faster and each day she hoped that she hoped that she would find her love alive.
On the ninth day the girl sang louder and louder as she travelled. Each time she sang she would listen to hear if there was any reply. And as she listened at one time she heard a faint voice. There was no mistake about it. It was her lover’s voice she ran and ran and after a while she found her lover. He was extremely weak and badly wounded. When the dying warrior saw her, he told her, “When I am finished, you take war attire and weapons home. When you get a son give them to him”. And with that the warrior seemed to be dying. But the girl did not listen to him, she quickly looked for water and washed his wounds. And after that she began to look for food for him. It did not take long before she saw a deer passing by. With her lover’s pear she killed it, and roasted the meat for her lover. For many months the young woman washed the wounds of her lover and fed him until he was well again. Back at home everybody thought that the young woman and her lover were dead, and they insisted that
their death rites be performed. However, the father of the warrior kept postponing the death rites. But at the last the old man agreed to perform the rites because his youngest son was to be circumcised, and could not be circumcised before the rites were performed.

So, preparations for the death rites for the lost warrior were made. But on the morning of the day that rites were performed and as people were gathering, one of the people in the gathering heard a war song coming from the other side of the valley. He asked other people to listen. The father of the warrior could not mistake his son’s soul.

He was almost crying as he gazed on the other side of the valley. The singing voice becomes clearer and before long the warrior and his lover emerged, driving a large herd of cattle. The bells that were tied around the necks of the oxen played to the tune of the war song.

There was great rejoicing as people ran to meet the lost warrior and his young lover. On their arrival back home a big bull was slaughtered and there was a great feast. People ate and drank. And the warrior and his lover were married. They become man and wife and lived happily. And my story ends.
Adapted from Oral literature: A junior course by A: Bukenya and M. Gachanja, Longhorn.

a) Explain features of oral narratives in the above genre (2 marks)
b) How has the youngest lover changed the plot of the story? (2 marks)
c) State and explain three social activities of the communities depicted in the story. (3 marks)

d) Describe the prevailing mood of the last paragraph. (3 marks)
e) Explain two character traits of the warrior as depicted in the narrative. (4 marks)
f) A class collected the above item from a community in Rusinga Island.
1. Which means of transport do you think they used and why? (2 marks)
2. State the items they lost during the transcription of the above story. (2 marks)
g) Provide a proverb that summarizes the above story. (1 mark)
h) State the main function of the song used in this narrative. (1 mark)

Replace the underlined words with a suitable phrasal
i) The fierce dog attacked the stranger.
ii) The fire brigade failed to extinguish the raging fire.
iii) The athlete regained consciousness after lying in the field for three hours.

Fill in the blank spaces with the correct word from the brackets.
i) It is………………………… (they/them) who assisted the accident victims.
ii) William is not as tall as………………………….(I, me)
iii) Joan together with her friends…………………. (drive/drives) the car.

Rewrite each of the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning.
i) The jet circled the town. It scared the residents. (Combine into one sentence using a participle)
ii) ‘I must sign the cheques now’ the manager said. (Rewrite in reported speech)
iii) I passed well in KCSE. It was because of my mother’s support.(combine into one sentence beginning: But..
iv) If you have not talked to the principal, he will send the students home. (Rewrite in passive)
v) Parliament passed the marriage bill it requires couples to declare whatever they own jointly. (punctuate correctly)

Explain the difference in meaning between the following sentences.
i) The guest who have badges will park at the yard
ii) The guests, who have badges, will park at the yard.

Fill in the blank spaces with the correct form of the words in brackets.
i) Faith’s……………………………. (mercury) temperament made her difficult to live with.
ii) The sick boy had………….(lie) under the tree for two hours