CS Machogu's Strategic Move: Postpones KCPE Supplementary Exam, Prioritizes Form Three Qualifying Tests

In a significant development, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has declared a postponement in the administration of the qualifying exam for students who missed the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination. This delay arises as the era of 8.4.4 education comes to a close in primary schools, making way for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Initially scheduled for this month, the KCPE supplementary exam was anticipated to cater to approximately 9,000 pupils who were unable to participate in the 2023 KCPE. However, following a meticulous audit conducted by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), only 2,000 eligible learners were identified as having missed the examinations.

CS Machogu advised the affected students to undergo their individual qualifying examinations during their time in Form Three. This strategic move ensures their eligibility for registration to sit for the KCSE Examination in Form Four, safeguarding their educational progression.

In response to this shift, the CS directed KNEC to release additional guidelines pertaining to the entry examination. Machogu revealed in an interview that the 2,000 candidates who missed the KCPE examination would be allocated placements in county and sub-county secondary schools.

Simultaneously, KNEC Chief Executive Dr. David Njengere unveiled the registration dates for this year's Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The registration period is set to kick off on January 29 and conclude on March 29, providing a two-month window for schools to register and validate data.

Emphasizing the critical importance of accurate data, Njengere highlighted that personalized KCSE exam materials would be issued to individual candidates. Candidates not included in the registration database by the end of the registration period face the risk of not receiving examination papers at the culmination of the academic year.

This announcement underscores the government's commitment to ensuring a smooth transition in the education system while maintaining the integrity of national examinations through meticulous planning and adherence to timelines. Students and educators are urged to stay informed and adhere to the outlined procedures for a seamless academic year.