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Class 8 and Grade 6 candidates are set to start the rehearsals for their national exams today.
Class 8 learners will sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) while Grade 6 learners will sit for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
Exams for both KCPE and KPSEA will begin on Monday, October 30, and end on Wednesday, November 1.
There are 1,282,574 candidates set to sit the KPSEA assessments. As last year, the assessment will be done to monitor learner achievement and not the placement of candidates.
Unlike in KCPE exams where candidates are rated out of 100 per cent, KPSEA only accounts for 40 per cent of the final score.
The other 60 per cent comes from classroom-based continuous assessment tests conducted in Grades 4, 5 and 6.
The subjects tested under KEPSEA are Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Integrated Science (I.S) which entails Home Science, Agriculture, Science and Tech, and Physical Health.
They are also tested in Creative And Social Sciences (C.A.S.S) which includes Arts and Craft, Music, Social Studies, and Religious Education..
Candidates set to sit KCPE exams this year are 1,415, 315.
The candidature for KCPE recorded a significant increase of 13.74 per cent (170,982 candidates) in 2023 when compared to 2022.
This may be attributed to the fact that the KCPE examination is being administered for the last time in 2023 hence an attempt by learners who may have dropped out to take advantage of the last chance.
The 2023 KCPE examinations mark the end of the 8-4-4 system in primary schools.
Kenya National Examination Council CEO David Njeng’ere is set to visit Athi River Primary School in Nairobi to oversee the start of the rehearsals which will be happening across the country.
BY LINDWE DANFLIOW