Education CS Matiang'i calls meeting to discuss KCSE, KCPE exams

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i addressing the Press on this years National Examination dates and Moi Girls fire investigation results Nairobi 04/09/17 [Photo: Moses Omusula]

Key players in education will on Monday hold discussions today on how next month's election will affect the school calendar and national exams.

The Standard has established that the duration of school closure during the repeat elections is one of the key issues to be deliberated on.

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination preparations will also be discussed during the meeting to be chaired by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.

Officials from Kenya National Examination Council (Knec), Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Ministry of Education regional coordinators and teachers' associations have been invited to the meeting.

Invitation letter

Education Permanent Secretary Bellio Kipsang signed the invitation letter.

The meeting comes as debate rages on the election date with possibility of adjustments which may affect exam preparations.

The electoral agency set October 17 as the elections date with national examinations expected to kick off end of October.

Initial plans were to have all schools close on October 29 ahead of start of KCPE and KCSE examinations.

Examination timetable shows that KCPE examinations will start on October 31 while KCSE rehearsals will be done on November 3 and written examinations will kick off on November 6.

Some 1.6 million candidates will sit KCPE and KCSE examinations this year.

The meeting also comes as secondary school heads pleaded with the electoral commission to consider alternative tallying centres, saying using boarding schools will affect exam preparation.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association national chairman Kahi Indimuli called on the electoral agency not to use boarding secondary schools as polling centres to allow smooth learning during the election.

Mr Indimuli said tallying may take up to five days and cautioned that this may further keep candidates away from school.