Headteachers, Parents Protest Over New KNEC Directives On KCSE

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), has issued a new directive requiring all schools presenting candidates for the 2021 KCPE and KCSE exams to have a minimum of 40 students to qualify as exam centers.

The move has raised concerns among school heads who are worried about losing candidates should parents realize that their schools may not meet the threshold.

Parents also raised concerns that the directive would destabilize students who would have to adapt to a new environment.

According to Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA), Chief Executive, Peter Ndoro, the directive was made without consulting key education stakeholders.

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He added that it is not only an abuse to the doctrine of stakeholder participation as provided for in our constitution but an attack on private schools aimed at disrupting progress made in expanding access to the provision of quality education in our country.

“If I’m a private school investor and I’m taking my student to another school probably those children will pull others to that school meaning that my business will be destabilized which is not right. KNEC should revoke that directive,” Ndoro stated.

On June 11, KNEC acting chief executive Mercy Karogo issued the directives in a circular sent to all headteachers of primary schools and principals of secondary schools

She directed that all schools, both private and public, who did not meet the threshold would have to be hosted by another center.

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“The host school should be located within the sub-county where the hosted schools are. Both the host school and the hosted school(s) should be served from one distribution point (container),” read part of the notice.

Examiners are underway with setting exams, and KNEC is currently focused on preparing candidates for the exams.

In a circular issued to schools that will have candidates towards the end of July 2021 (currently Class 7 and Form 3 students), KNEC instructed headteachers to register them on its portal.

Sub-County Directors of Education were directed to register private candidates. The directors will access and download the private candidates’ registration forms from the KNEC portal, ensure it is appropriately filled and forward it to sub-county education offices.

In February, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had asked teachers to apply to schools as examiners, supervisors, invigilators, and center managers. Security personnel also applied. All of them will help in the administration of the KCPE and KCSE examinations.