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Class eight candidates will, beginning this morning, sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams in tough and unfamiliar conditions. 

The Ministry of Education has put up stringent Covid-19 protocols given the surging numbers of cases in the country.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha is expected to lead his Cabinet colleagues, Principal Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) and County education officials in ensuring smooth delivery and administration of the examinations.

Rehearsals for KCPE exams were conducted on Friday, with Magoha saying all the Class Eight students must sit the exams whether registered or not.

Magoha made the remarks amid reports that some private schools may have failed to register their students for the exams despite receiving registration fees.

“There are a few unscrupulous teachers from private schools who I understand did not register candidates. As the teachers and proprietors are investigated, the children must be allowed to take their examinations,” directed Magoha.

The CS also assured that the examinations will be fair and that they were set taking into consideration the circumstances under which the students learnt.

This is the first time that exams are being undertaken early in the year as they are traditionally written in October and November.

The KCPE students will today sit for Mathematics, English Language and Composition papers, tomorrow they write the Science, Kiswahili Lugha and Insha while the Social Studies and Religious Education paper will be written on Wednesday.

This came as Magoha denied claims that the aircraft that crashed in Marsabit on Saturday was ferrying examination papers.

“All examination materials for both KCPE and KCSE are safe and no paper has been exposed to anyone in any manner,” Magoha said.

He urged candidates and parents to remain calm, saying preparations were complete.

KCSE exams will follow after KCPE.

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) acting Chief Executive Officer Mercy Karogo said she was confident the exams would run smoothly.

“All arrangements for 2020 national examinations are complete,” said Karogo.

Some 1,191,725 candidates are expected to sit the KCPE exams in 28,467 centres while 752,981 KCSE candidates have been registered in 10,437 examination centres.

All the centres will be served from 479 distribution containers.

The containers are located in the Deputy County Commissioners’ (DCC) premises and in vast counties while additional containers have been installed in Assistant County Commissioners (ACC) premises.

To ensure security, the containers have a double locking system and the DCC/ACC and SCDE will be the only officers authorised to open and close the storage facilities.

Magoha has warned candidates against using masks to cheat, saying education officials were keenly watching Migori and Kisii counties, known for notoriety in cheating.

“There will be thorough inspection of masks before the candidates get to the exam room,” he said.

It is compulsory for officials at the examination centres to use sanitisers or wash their hands before being allowed to handle examination materials.

At examination centres, all officials must wash their hands or sanitise before they open scripts for distribution to candidates and must use sanitisers or wash their hands before frisking candidates.

Amani National Congress (ANC) Musalia Mudavadi also wished the best to candidates, saying they have learnt under tough conditions.

“To the KCPE and KCSE Class of 2020, ensure you put your best foot forward. Remember that it is only during challenging times such as this, that your true courage is expressed. Go out and conquer these exams!” he said in statement.