Kirinyaga: The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) exams began today in Kirinyaga County, marking a milestone in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition process.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Director of Education, Joshua Mwangi, stated that the examinations started without any major hitch in all sub-counties. However, he disclosed that one KPSEA candidate from Mwea Sub-County, who is currently admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital, has been granted special arrangements to sit for the assessment from the hospital.
Mwangi reported that 11,834 candidates are sitting for the KPSEA assessment this year, with 6,050 boys and 5,784 girls, and 11,663 learners undertaking the KJSEA examination, comprising 6,022 boys and 5,641 girls respectively. He noted that 313 centers have been designated for KPSEA and 260 centers for KJSEA across the county. Examination materials were dispatched on time to all stations under tight security.
'We are monitoring examination centers in Kirinyaga to ensure smooth operations, and have not received reports of any incidents or irregularities thus far,' said Mwangi. The County Education Director further praised headteachers and parents for their cooperation, urging them to continue supporting learners throughout the examination period. He reiterated that all examination officers had been adequately briefed on ethics, professionalism, and the need to safeguard the integrity of the assessments.
Meanwhile, Kirinyaga Deputy County Commissioner, Josephine Mwengi, assured residents that adequate security measures had been put in place to safeguard both learners and examination materials. 'Unlike in previous years where police officers were stationed inside exam rooms, this time round security personnel will only conduct patrols around all centres to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for the candidates,' said Mwengi.
The government is committed to conducting examinations in a calm, transparent, and fair manner, free from intimidation or malpractice. Both the Ministry of Education and the County Administration have urged parents and guardians to continue supporting the learners, since the KPSEA and KJSEA assessments are part of the government's plan to evaluate learners' understanding and application of knowledge under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Hence, the outcomes will be used to guide learners' transition to the next level of education.