The national examinations for primary and secondary schools will start from March 22, 2021, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has said.

CS Magoha said on Tuesday that the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education(KCSE) will start on March 22 and March 24, 2021, respectively.

The CS said the reopening of schools will start with Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) class, class eight and form four on Monday, October 12, 2020.

“Pursuant to the Presidential directive issued during the Twelfth (12th) Presidential Address to the nation on coronavirus on Monday, 28th September, the Ministry of Education notifies the public on progressive re-opening of schools(SIC),” he said in a statement.

The Ministry has revised the 2020 school calender where Term Two will begin on Monday October 12 and end on the Christmas Eve, December 24, for the CBC pupils and KCPE and KCSE candidates only.

The candidates and the CBC pupils will start their Term Three on January 4, 2021 and close on March 19 to prepare for the national exams that will take three weeks for KCSE and two days for KCPE.

The Ministry has set strict Covid-19 protocols that schools must follow prior to reopening.All learners, staff, teachers and visitors to schools must wear face masks and regular monitoring of body temperature.

Schools are supposed to have running water for hand washing and sanitisers where water is unavailable.

Every school to have a quarantine centre, fumigated and supervised by the Ministry of Education.

Schools earlier designed for quarantine but never used can reopen without fumigation.

Every school should be linked to a nearest public health facility prior to reopening.

The CS said the State has met all the costs of KCSE and KCPE for the March exams.