Education CS George Magoha. He is leading a team to the UK where the KCPE and KCSE tests are being printed. [David Njaaga, Standard]

Examinations preparations for KCPE and KCSE candidates are in top gear a month to the tests.

According to the revised education calendar, the 2021 KCPE exam will be done between March 7 and 10. KCSE will be between March 11 and April 1.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha is leading a team from the Ministry of Education and the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) on a visit to the UK where the tests are being printed.

Basic Education PS Jwan Julius, KNEC Chief Executive David Njengere and other senior officials are in the delegation. 

Sources say during the two weeks’ exercise, the team will oversee proof-reading, printing, packaging and shipping of the material.

It also emerged that the team will take time to start the process for December KCPE and KCSE examinations. Magoha said a total of five examinations will be done this year.

He said this year two sets of examinations will be done under 8-4-4 system and the 2-6-3-3-3.

Education CS George Magoha (left) at Homa Bay during the distribution of KCSE papers. April 2021. [James Omoro, Standard]

March examinations will be the first of two separate sets to be administered this year as the country embraces reforms ahead of next year’s transition.

Exam timetable shows that for December examinations, KCPE will be done between November 28 and  December 1. KCSE will be administered between December 1 and December 23.

Knec data, however, shows that for the March exams, 2,056,719 candidates were registered. Of these are 1,225,693 who will sit KCPE and 831,026 enrolled for KCSE exams under the 2021 examinations.

The council said the number of candidates sitting KCPE has increased by 34, 085 compared to last year.

Additional 78,424 candidates have been registered to sit KCSE, according to KNEC data. Magoha said the March examinations will be moderated to factor in challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted learning and caused reorganisation of education calendar.

“We want our students to relax and cease expressing themselves in acts of atrocity for fear of the examinations. We are a considerate government and we will be as humane as possible,” Magoha said.

The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association and the Primary School Heads Association said preparations had started in earnest.