NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s Grade 6 and Grade 9 learners began national assessments on Monday, October 26, as new figures showed that about 261,000 learners who sat earlier national tests are not accounted for in this year’s examination registrations.
The assessments are the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6 and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for Grade 9.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) registered 1,380,463 candidates for KPSEA and 1,206,028 for KJSEA this year.
A further 1,048,355 candidates registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), bringing the total for the three examinations to 3,634,846.
KNEC data shows that 1,233,852 candidates sat the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), compared with 1,048,355 registered for this year’s KCSE. That is a difference of 185,497.
Another 1,281,210 learners sat the 2023 KPSEA, while 1,206,028 registered for this year’s KJSEA, a difference of 75,182.
The figures have renewed questions about the government’s 100 per cent transition policy, which seeks to ensure learners continue to the next level of education.
However, the difference in candidate numbers does not establish that all those learners dropped out of school.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the gap could reflect several factors, including deaths, learners moving to international curricula, delayed progression, sickness and early pregnancy.
He said some learners who temporarily leave school are given an opportunity to return.
President William Ruto encouraged Grade 6 and Grade 9 candidates as they began their assessments, while also sending a message to KCSE candidates preparing for their examinations.
“You have prepared, you have worked hard, and you are ready,” Ruto said, urging candidates to remain calm, trust their preparation and give their best. He thanked teachers, parents and guardians for supporting learners and said the country was proud of them.
ODM leader Oburu Oginga also sent candidates his “thoughts, prayers, and encouragement.”
He urged them to stay focused, trust the work they had put in and read the instructions carefully.
Oginga thanked parents, teachers and guardians for supporting the candidates.
The national examination season brings together learners at different stages of the education system.
The Grade 6 and Grade 9 assessments began on Monday, while KCSE candidates are in the final stretch of their examination period.
KNEC has deployed thousands of supervisors, invigilators and other personnel to support the administration of the assessments and examinations.
