Private schools decry new exam rules by KNEC
Private schools in Kenya have condemned the directive by the education sector to not allow schools with less than 40 candidates to be registered as national examination centres.
The Kenya National Examination Centre (KNEC) has in a circular informed that only centres with over 40 candidates determined by the sub-county will be allowed to register.
This directive will apply to both the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE).
The new provisions will be implemented beginning with the 2021 examinations which will be done early next year. Knec had already blocked schools with between six and fourteen candidates.
It has also stated that only centre managers or headteachers of host schools will be allowed to collect examination materials at the commission’s distribution point.
A move that the private education sector claims will disrupt the progress made in expanding access to the provision of quality education.
The Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) has however criticised the directive stating that the decision undermines public-private partnership that has promoted access to both primary and secondary schools.
“We are writing to express our deep concern over the manner in which this decision was made without consulting the key education stakeholders.
“It is an abuse to the doctrine of stakeholder participation and an attack on private schools.” Said KPSA chief executive Peter Ndoro.
Private schools decry new exam rules by KNEC
