Deadline Issued to Select KCPE, KCSE Candidates

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Education CS George Magoha addresses the media in October 2020
File

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued a deadline to KCPE and KCSE candidates whose schools were shut down due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

KNEC acting CEO Mercy Karogo send a circular to sub-county directors of education directing students to identify schools and notify the council a month before the commencement of the examinations.

"The council wishes to inform you that candidates from such schools should be hosted in public schools or institutions with sub-county.

File image of KCSE students preparing for an exam
File image of KCSE students preparing for an exam
File

"Information on the closed examination centres and identified school/institution should reach KNEC by February 15," read part of the circular.

The sub-county directors of education were further directed to take charge of the administration of exams during the period.

The circular also noted that KCPE and KCSE centres that have less than 15 candidates should move to certified examination centres that KNEC shall approve as the council will not allocate a supervisor to these centres.

According to the school calendar released by the Education Ministry, KCPE is scheduled to begin on March 22 and end on March 24 while KCSE will commence on March 26 and end on April 24.

Most of the schools affected are private institutions that struggled to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic as they folded and converted the premises to various businesses. 

Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) CEO Peter Ndoro earlier announced that close to 339 private schools across the country had shut down owing to the economic adversities of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, in December, instructed school heads of primary and secondary schools to admit students from private institutions in January 2021.

"All pupils who cannot return to their private schools will be admitted in public schools. 

"KCPE and KCSE candidates will learn in public schools, but they will return to the private schools during examination time to enable them sit the exams," he noted.

File image of KCSE students in Kenya
File image of KCSE students in Kenya
File
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