For the first time, primary schools will be holding two national exams - KCPE for Standard 8 and Kenya Primary School Assessment for Grade 6 pupils.
The focus is now on primary school head teachers who act as centre managers during exams.
Head teachers are required to collect exam materials, coordinate the conduct of the exams and return the answer scripts to the containers after each exam day.
Kenya Primary School Heads Association chairperson Johnson Nzioka said being the first time they are administering two national exams at the same time, they are ready to deal with the challenges that may arise.
“We have also talked to our members to ensure both exams are handled professionally,” Nzioka said.
“Any new practice comes with its own challenges. We shall have issues here and there but we are ready to ensure both KCPE and KPSEA are done credibly.”
During the 2021 national examinations held earlier this year, the then Education CS George Magoha accused centre managers of registering extra candidates who did not exist to facilitate exam cheating.
However, Nzioka said these are isolated cases which can be dealt with by relevant stakeholders.
Knec has already spelt out strict regulations to be followed and tough penalties for those who will be found culpable for exam malpractice.
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, who is overseeing the Kenya Kwanza government’s first national exams, has opted for a multi-sectoral approach to curb cheating.
“We are here to give assurance to the country that we are prepared for this year’s national examinations. The entire government, including my colleagues in the Cabinet, will take part in the exercise,” Machogu said.
KPSEA will eventually replace KCPE under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
The first batch of Grade 6 learners will Monday at 8.30am sit the Mathematics paper followed by English at 10.50am.
Standard 8 learners will also start with Mathematics at 8.30am, followed by English language at 11.30am and Composition at 2.30pm.
