Marking of KCPE exam enters crucial final week as Form Four test comes to a close

A Standard Eight pupil at Moi Avenue Primary School in Nairobi during an assessment last year. [File, Standard]

This week marks an important season for the education sector as preparations for the release of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results are underway.

As the marking of Composition and Insha papers draws to a close, well-placed sources at the Ministry of Education hinted that the KCPE exam results could be out anytime from this week.

Most of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates are also expected to sit their last papers by end of this week.

Basic Education Permanent Secretary Jwan Julius has directed all County Directors of Education in the counties placed under lockdown to facilitate smooth travel of the learners.

“Work with county commissioners and principals of schools to ensure that candidates are facilitated to travel,” reads a circular dated April 9.

The directors are therefore required to liaise with transport companies to pick students from school, and each learner must be in their school uniform.

Each student must have a letter, which will be the travelling pass, issued at school and the parents must be informed that the children have left school for home, complete with travel details, said Jwan.

Last week, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the KCPE results would be released in two weeks’ time.

“The Covid-19 disruptions have also affected the marking of the papers as some examiners were not able to take part in the process,” said an official from the ministry.

Sources further revealed that the turnout of the examination markers was about 70 per cent. 

“The marking centres were also increased to comply with the Covid-19 protocols and this has also affected the smooth process of the exercise,” said the exam officer.

Merging of marking centres was part of the key reforms instituted in 2017 to minimise interactions of the markers and outside stakeholders to avoid doctoring of results.