KNEC outlines key rules as KPSEA and KJSEA begin on Monday, October 27
By Kenneth Mwenda, October 26, 2025The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued final instructions to field officers and centre managers ahead of the start of the 2025 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), which begin on Monday, October 27, 2025.
In a statement on Sunday evening, KNEC said the two assessments will run concurrently with the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), which is entering its second week.
The council directed that containers holding examination papers for KPSEA and KJSEA be opened at 6 am, while those for KCSE will be opened at 7 a.m.
“Mobile phones belonging to all personnel in the centre must be locked up, with the key kept by the supervisor,” KNEC stated.
It added that all centre managers must have an approved list of authorised persons within the examination centre, and those individuals must carry national identification cards for verification. KNEC further reminded supervisors to ensure that they open the correct examination packets for each session to avoid any mix-up.
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The statement concluded with a message of goodwill to all candidates, wishing them success as the national examination period begins.
Also watch: Government assures smooth transition to grade 10 under CBC.
Government cites full readiness
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba last week assured Kenyans that the government is fully prepared for this year’s national examinations, including the first-ever KJSEA for Grade 9 learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking after briefing President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, Ogamba said logistical and administrative plans have been completed and that all examination centres across the country are ready.
He added that the Ministry of Education, working with other government departments, had deployed adequate security officers to safeguard examination materials and ensure that assessments are conducted without disruption.
This year marks a major milestone in the implementation of the CBC. For the first time, Grade 9 learners will sit for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), which will determine their transition to senior school.
The assessment will run alongside the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6. According to KNEC, 1,298,089 learners will sit for KPSEA, 1,130,669 for KJSEA, and 996,078 for KCSE.