Grade 9 Candidates Complete KJSEA As KCSE Practical Examinations Enter Final Day
Grade 9 learners sat their last Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) papers today, Friday, October 30. KCSE candidates, meanwhile, finished their practical exams, with the written papers due to start on Monday, November 2.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) says 3,634,846 learners and candidates registered for this year’s three national assessments.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba broke the figure down: 1,380,463 for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), 1,206,028 for KJSEA, and 1,048,355 for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
It was a packed final day for KJSEA candidates, who had three papers to get through. Pre-Technical Studies kicked off at 8:30 am, Religious Education followed at 11:10 am, and Integrated Science closed the assessment, starting at 2:00 pm.
For Religious Education, candidates took the paper that matched their faith: Christian (CRE), Islamic (IRE) or Hindu (HRE).
Over on the KCSE side, the last practical papers all began at 8:00 am. They covered Home Science (Clothing Construction), Art and Design, Power Mechanics, Electricity, Drawing and Design, Aviation Technology, and Computer Studies.
KNEC wished every candidate well and called on them to keep to the rules and protect the integrity of the process. The written KCSE papers will run from November 2 to November 20.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, October 28, Grade 6 learners finished their KPSEA papers. That brings the primary school calendar to a close, and the learners are set to join junior school in January 2027.
Ahead of the exams, Ogamba assured parents, teachers and learners that the government had put safeguards in place so the process would run smoothly and securely. Among them are smart electronic padlocks on exam storage containers, colour-coded materials, and personalised question papers meant to shield candidates’ identities.
The government also added more storage containers, which cut the distance exam officials must travel and help materials reach remote, hard-to-access areas on time.
Ogamba noted that the assessments are central to rolling out Competency-Based Education (CBE). KPSEA gauges learners’ progress at the end of Grade 6, while KJSEA measures the competencies Grade 9 learners have built up before moving on to senior school.
Read Also: How KPSEA And KJSEA Results Will Be Determined According To KNEC
