Plans for 2.3m candidates to sit tests complete, Knec says

Grade eight pupils at Xaverian primary school in Kisumu during the last minutes of rehearsals ahead of KCPE exams. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Plans are complete to administer national examinations to 2.3 million learners who will sit this year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

Around 1,415,315 candidates will sit for KCPE exam, while another 903,260 will take the KCSE test.

Kenya National Examination Council Chief Executive David Njengere also said preparations have been made for Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for 1,282,574 Grade Six learners.

Dr Njengere said that candidate registration has been completed, the examination papers have been set and will be administered according to the timetable.

He made these remarks at the opening of the 39th Association for Educational Assessment in Africa Conference held at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi yesterday.

This year's conference theme is 'Educational Assessment for Nurturing Every Learner's Potential,' aligning with the country's transition from the 8-4-4 curriculum to the Competency Based Curriculum.

KCPE and KPSEA tests are scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 2.

KCPE candidates will have rehearsals on October 27. On October 30, they will sit for Mathematics, English language, and English composition. On the following day, candidates will take Science, Kiswahili Lugha, and Kiswahili Insha.

The examination will conclude on November 1, with candidates taking Social Studies and Religious Education.

For KCSE candidates, the exam will be held from November 3 to November 24.

Schools will reopen on August 29 for the shortest term of the academic calendar, leaving candidates with just two months to prepare.