The 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers had new specialized features introduced by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) as part of its innovations aimed at curbing cheating.
The KCSE 2024 new features were highlighted by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba who was speaking on October 4 during the launch of the 2024 national examinations and assessments season at Mitihani House in Nairobi.
KNEC, during the launch revealed the exact figure of candidates who sat for both KCSE and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations.
The 2024 KCSE exams kicked off on October 22 and ended on November 22.
KPSEA on the other hand run from October 28 and ended on October 30.
CS Ogamba revealed the raft of changes effected to this year’s KCSE while urging all the stakeholders involved in the entire ecosystem of administering examinations and assessments to pay attention to the innovations introduced by KNEC.
The CS highlighted that answer sheets for all students had been customized.
Also Read: TSC Responds After Teachers are Unable to Apply for 46,000 Jobs
KCSE 2024 Features
According to Ogamba, the candidates’ examination details names, index number and other personal details were pre-printed on the papers.
“I particularly urge all the stakeholders involved in the entire ecosystem of administering examinations and assessments to adhere to the laid down rules and 13 regulations to secure the credibility of the entire process. I urge you to pay attention to the innovations that we have been briefed on that will be in place this year,” said CS Ogamba.
He added, “These innovations include the introduction of personalized question papers for the KCSE Examination candidates, whereby candidates’ names will be preprinted on the question paper.”
KNEC CEO David Ngengere said the council acquired new containers to ensure smooth administration of the examination and assessments.
Also Read: KNEC Reveals Number of KCSE & KPSEA Candidates, Acquires New Containers
In total, 1,313,913 candidates sat for KPSEA while 965,501 candidates were registered to sit for KCSE.
This is compared with 1,282,574 and 903,260 candidates who sat the two-level assessments in 2023 respectively.
End of ceremonies and KCPE
Also, CS Ogamba during the event gave a reason to why there will be no longer be a ceremony to release results of either KPSEA or Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA).
The two are under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
“I wish to inform Kenyans that we will no longer have any ceremony to release results of either the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) or Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) as has been the case for the KCPE.
This is indeed in tandem with the spirit of the Competency Based Curriculum, where it is intended that we reduce the cut-throat competition that has always been associated with national examination,” he added.
Notably, 2024 marked a historical turning point for the country since 1985 as it is the first time that there will be no summative national examination in the name of KCPE which was first administered in 1985, at the advent of the 8-4-4 system.
The last KCPE was held in 2023 with KPSEA replacing it at the primary level, with the new assessment’s key purpose being monitoring learner progress as they proceed to the Junior Secondary School (JSS).
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
