Record High Number of Candidates to sit for KNEC exams
This year’s national examinations will involve more than 3.5 million candidates, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), marking a record-high in registrations.
Dr. Belio Kipsang, the Basic Education Principal Secretary, shared that KCSE will have fewer than one million candidates, KCPE around 1.4 million candidates, and approximately 1.2 million candidates will take KPSEA. Notably, some adults have registered as private candidates, as revealed by KCPE data analysis.
The Ministry of Education is in the process of revising the grading system to focus on students’ competencies, skills, and knowledge, aligning with recommendations from the Presidential Working Group on Education Reforms (PWPER). This new system will separate placement from testing and benefit the upcoming candidates, impacting five cohorts under the previous 8-4-4 system.
Dr. Kipsang emphasized that this year’s KCPE marks the final phase of transitioning to competency-based education at the primary level, assessing learners based on their acquired knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and attitudes.
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Under the new system, numeracy (mathematics) and literacy (Kiswahili or English) will be prioritized for certification, with evaluation in seven subject areas. Students are encouraged to excel in various subjects, including two sciences, one humanities, numeracy, literacy, and other relevant areas of learning.
The PS also addressed concerns about lower transition rates to university education compared to neighboring countries, emphasizing the importance of students mastering diverse subjects.
Regarding potential disruptions due to El Niño rains, the government has taken measures to ensure a smooth examination process, identifying flood-prone areas and mobilizing resources, including military helicopters.
Record High Number of Candidates to sit for KNEC exams
