Nairobi: The Ministry of Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Julius Ogamba, has confirmed that national examinations are running smoothly in junior and senior secondary schools. Speaking to the press, the CS stated that all examination materials are prepared, and learners have rehearsed examination protocols. The examining bodies are ready to administer and supervise the examination exercise with utmost professionalism and credibility.
According to Kenya News Agency, the country has a total of 3.4 million candidates enrolled for examination, the highest ever recorded. These candidates will undertake the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. For grade 9 learners transitioning to grade 10, the examinations will have an accumulative mark of 60 percent, with the remaining 40 percent already acquired during their learning at Junior Secondary School.
CS Ogamba assured that adequate plans are in place for the smooth transition of learners from Junior Secondary School (JSS) to Senior Secondary School (SSS), housed in current secondary school institutions. The Ministry of Education allocated Sh950 million to retool teachers on the new Competence Based Education (CBE) Curriculum. The commission has recruited 76,000 teachers for JSS, with plans to recruit an additional 24,000 teachers by January next year. The ministry also ordered a verification exercise on basic education facilities to gather crucial data on the number of schools, students, and their grades. This data will guide decisions on the rationalization of teacher-to-student ratios across the country.
Learners transitioning to Junior Secondary School will be enrolled in one of three pathways: sports and arts, social science, and STEM. Learners will be placed in pathways they are competent in, with guidance already provided on selecting Senior schools according to their preferred pathways.
CS Ogamba guaranteed sufficient room and space for senior school learners, as the current secondary school setup did not include form ones, and form fours will be leaving after their final exams next month. He appealed to all Kenyans to allow candidates to complete their examinations without interference or malpractice, warning of legal consequences. He wished all candidates success, confirming that the government fully supports them and will ensure their transition to the next level of study according to their career aspirations and capabilities.