Be ready for five exams next year, says Magoha

Education cabinet Secretary George Magoha speaking at Maseno school on December 18th 2021. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha says there are plans to administer five examinations next year.

He said the first set of exams will be done in March as the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates sit the tests.

Another test will be done in December. However, the CS said the third transition exam for Grade Six learners will also be done in December. These are the pioneer candidates under the 2-6-3-3-3 education system who have been undertaking the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Speaking during the launch of the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) 2021-2026 strategic plan, Magoha told the agency staff to prepare well for more tasks ahead.

‘‘This coming year, it shall test whether the transformation we have done at Knec is sustainable. And the reason is, instead of having two normal exams, we shall have five with two in March and three in December,’’ he said. The 2021 KCPE and KCSE will be held in March next year. In December 2022, the Ministry of Education will administer the 2022 KCPE and KCSE exams as well as the Grade Six Summative Examination for the pioneer CBC cohort.

The CS said test papers have been developed and hopefully by end of February next year, the December exams will be ready for administration.

He said 2022 will be a transition year from 8.4.4 system to CBC and also considering it will also be an election year. Magoha, at the same time, cautioned the few Knec staff, who he said are always willing to aid exam cheating, telling them their days are numbered. 

The CS defended the new curriculum, saying children who are under CBC were more productive compared to those who passed through 8.4.4 system. ‘‘The CBC child is very different breed who’s productive,’’ said Magoha.

On the Knec strategic plan, Magoha challenged the council’s CEO David Njegere to review it annually to see what has been achieved and what may need to be changed.

Njengere said the focus of the strategic plan is on how they will enhance assessment and ensure credible certification.

‘‘There are many issues covered there but two of them that are very critical are that it will consolidate all the gains we have made to ensure we have credible exams since 2016,’’ said Njegere.