The number of candidates registered for the national examinations has recorded an increase with a total of 1,218,892 candidates in 28,248 centres and 824,392 candidates in 10,384 centres having been registered for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations respectively by July 31, 2021.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. George Magoha said that in 2020, 1,191,616 and 752,602 candidates were registered for the KCPE and KCSE respectively. This represents an increase of 2.29 per cent and 9.54 per cent in candidature in the 2021 KCPE and KCSE respectively compared with 2020.

2021 KCSE, KCPE registration deadline extended.

In a statement to newsrooms on Monday, Prof. Magoha said that the phenomenal increase in KCSE candidature is attributed to the success of the Government’s policy of 100 per cent transition which started in 2018.

“Preparations for the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations commenced with the registration of candidates starting from June 2^nd, 2021. The registration exercise was scheduled to close on July 31^st, 2021,” explained Prof. Magoha.

“However, since the exercise closed on July 31^st, 2021, a number of Head Teachers and Principals have requested the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to allow them more time to mop up all candidates that may not have been registered by the deadline, owing to one reason or the other, including the school movements attributed to the effects of COVID-19,” he said.

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Prof. Magoha said that the Government has, therefore, decided to extend the registration deadline by two weeks in order to give an opportunity to schools to ensure all candidates are registered, in the spirit of leaving no child behind in the education sector.  Therefore, the final registration deadline is August 14, 2021.

“Head Teachers and Principals are reminded to ensure that all bona fide candidates are registered for the examination within this final two weeks. Any candidate who fails to register for the 2021 examination to be done in March 2022, will only be allowed to sit the examination in December 2022. Late registration shall not be allowed,” said the CS.

He added that the registration deadline will be followed with a verification of candidates’ registration details as captured in the 2021 KCPE and KCSE nominal rolls between August 16^th and 27^th, 2021.

“Head Teachers and Principals are informed that the duly signed nominal rolls, and medical reports for candidates with special needs must be submitted to Sub-County Directors of Education together with the other registration documents,” said Prof. Magoha.

The CS explained that all primary and secondary schools, both public and private, with less than  30  candidates will be hosted in schools within their proximity and locality that have more than thirty candidates as per the KNEC guidelines, while all Special Needs Schools will retain their examination centres irrespective of the number of registered candidates.

“For all examination centres with a candidature of less than 30, and which may  have legitimate hosting challenges, Sub County Directors of Education will seek  guidance from the Kenya National Examinations Council on the way forward,” said Prof. Magoha.

“All stakeholders are reminded that, to ensure equity, the Government pays examination fees for all primary and secondary school learners in both public and private schools. Schools are only required to register candidates for the examinations. Consequently, schools should not force learners to repeat,” said Prof. Magoha.

He said that the Government is committed to sustain its efforts to ensure high levels of credibility and integrity in the administration of national examinations.