The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has made a significant announcement regarding the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) exam papers. KNEC CEO, David Njegere, revealed that sample examination papers for the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment are available for free on the council’s portal for schools to access.
Njegere strongly warned Kenyans against exploiting the situation by downloading and selling these papers to schools or candidates. This warning comes amid concerns about enterprising individuals who may seek to profit from distributing the papers illegally. The CEO emphasized that these sample papers are meant to be freely accessible to assist schools in preparing their students for the KJSEA.
The KJSEA is an integral part of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and will replace the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). This year, KNEC will administer the assessment to the first cohort of students who have just transitioned into Grade 9. Additionally, the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be administered to the third cohort of CBC learners.
Njegere also highlighted KNEC’s preparations for the assessment, including a pilot study carried out in July 2024. The pilot, which involved 235 schools from across the country, tested over 5,000 learners. The results were then used to inform the development of the final assessment blueprint.
The Kenya Prevocational Level Education will also be administered to approximately 5,306 candidates with special needs. This move underscores the council’s commitment to inclusivity, with special provisions for students with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities.
As the exam season approaches, KNEC has contracted 32,800 examiners, an increase from the previous year, to ensure that the marking process is both timely and accurate. A total of 965,501 candidates have registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, reflecting a 6.89% increase in the number of candidates compared to the previous year.
Njegere commended the Centre Managers for their efforts in ensuring the timely and accurate registration of candidates, highlighting the importance of preparedness as the country gears up for these critical assessments.
