Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has directed ministry officials and all schools to allow all students to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary School (KCPE) exams including those who did not register.
This year's KCPE will be the last as the ministry phases out the 8-4-4 system. The current class is the last lot to sit for the KCPE exams.
This means that candidates who will miss to sit will have to be forced into the new system which has changed a lot of things in the curriculum.
“Since this is the last KCPE, learners shall not be disadvantaged by exclusion from the examination, on account of non-registration,” the CS noted.
“Consequently, all affected learners are advised to report to their respective schools/designated examination centres for purposes of sitting the examination on the scheduled dates.”
Non-registration of candidates has been a common occurrence with some schools missing to meet the scheduled time.
There have also been cases where schools fail to register students even after remitting the exam fees and meeting all the requirements.
Machogu has now directed his ministry to take action against officials and teachers who blocked the registration of some students, knowing too well that this was the last KCPE.
“This is a serious offence that unjustly disenfranchises learners. Appropriate action will therefore be taken against those responsible in accordance with the law,” Machogu stated.
KCPE exams start on Monday and will end on Wednesday.
This year's exams will be the last one in history, having started in 1985 after Kenya changed its education system.
The new competency-based curriculum popularly referred to as CBC gives less emphasis on exams and offers career pathways early in school.
