Trade Test
Assessment and Certifications Unit - Trade Test
Background Information
National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) is mandated under Industrial Training Act Cap.237 and the Amendment Act 2011 to conduct Testing and Issue Certificates to successful candidates and students.
Testing is a systematic way of evaluating the skills of an artisan/apprentice to ascertain competencies possessed in a given trade area. This is done by designing a test guideline or curriculum from which an identified setter may develop a test paper for a specific trade, which gives a working technical drawing with details of what is to be produced by a candidate at the end of the test.
The Assessment and Certification is one of the key functions for NITA and is being carried out by this Unit.
Currently, there are over 500 institutions and workplaces spread all over the country that, based on their capacity in terms of testing equipment/facilities, have been accredited and approved as Testing Centres. Out of the 500 approved testing institutions, NITA has only 5 institutions being used for testing.
The function entails the following sub-functions or activities as listed below:-
- Registration of Candidates
This is a process where candidates/students book for Testing using the prescribed booking form in all NITA booking outlet within the Country. On receiving the booking form at the Unit, validation of the information submitted is done based on the supporting documents and minimum requirements as stated in the Testing booking form Guidelines. The annual registration of candidates is about 50,000 for trade test and about 400 apprentices.
- Testing and Supervision of Candidates/Apprentices
Testing of candidates /Apprentices is one of the sub functions of NITA. It is being administered by this section and is done by deploying competent examiners drawn from existing NITA data base to carry out. The exercise is done under close supervision by NITA technical staff. Approximately, about 1600 examiners and 60 supervisors are engaged during the December grade III Testing exercise. The grade III candidates are over 39, 000 annually. The testing is carried out in over 500 approved NITA testing centres for duration of two weeks.
The activity is done three times a year namely;
April for candidates attempting Grade I, II and III [Booking period is from 2nd January and 2nd March of each year]
August for candidates attempting grades II & I and;
December for Grade III candidates.
- Results and Certificate processing
At the end of testing exercise, the examiner submits the results to NITA for entry into the Computer data base after verification of the same. Results are then printed, sorted out per addresses, and then dispatched to various individuals candidates contact address provided to NITA in the booking forms.
- Replacement of lost or defaced certificates
This sub function involves receiving a request from the candidate for replacement of lost or defaced Trade Test certificate. The candidate submits documents to confirm the authenticity if it conforms to the record kept by NITA. The candidate is also advised to pay Ksh 5,000.00 into NITA accounts as replacement fees.
- Inspection of old and new testing Centers
This sub-function is carried out to check the level of suitability of the Testing centres to undertake the Testing exercise and also to add more centres on the ground to reduce distance and time spent by the candidates to reach the testing centres. It is also a function within Performance Contract for Assessment and Certification Section to Inspect and approve 120 new testing centres annually. It is carried out twice a year in the month of March and September.
- Test development
Development of Test-papers forms the backbone of the Testing exercise. Professionally prepared test papers are critical in maintaining the confidence of all players in the Trade Testing exercise. The process of setting and moderation of test papers is currently a function which includes the development of both Trade Test papers and Proficiency examinations. It involves constituting a panel of test developers for various testable trades from among the qualified examiners in NITA data bank.
