KIAMBU: The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), a crucial component of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), is scheduled to commence in Kiambu County on October 28 and conclude on October 30. Over 50,000 candidates from both public and private schools are registered to participate in the exams, which will be administered in more than a thousand centers across the county.

According to Kenya News Agency, Kiambu County Education Director Simon Wanjohi stated that 34,809 candidates from public schools and 16,598 from private schools will sit for the KPSEA examinations. The exams will be conducted in 1,043 registered centers, with 459 located in public schools and 584 in private schools. Wanjohi assured that preparations, including transport and security arrangements for the examination papers, are complete.

Wanjohi also noted a significant procedural change for this year’s KPSEA exams compared to previous Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. Security officers will not b
e permitted inside examination rooms to minimize the risk of malpractices. Personnel including supervisors and invigilators have been briefed on security protocols to handle any issues that may arise during the exams.

The shift to the Competency-Based Curriculum is seen as a move towards a more engaging education system, according to Wanjohi. He emphasized that the CBC aligns with learners’ interests and passions, nurturing students in their fields of interest to help them reach their highest potential.

Community members like Loise Nyambura Muturi, a parent from Kiambu Town, have expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts in enhancing the education sector. She commended the recent completion of 109 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers and the ongoing construction of 138 additional centers under Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s “Leave No Child Behind” program.

The Kenya National Examination Council’s timetable indicates that the KPSEA will span three days, beginning with Mathematics and
English on October 28, followed by Integrated Science and Kiswahili on October 29. The exams will conclude on October 30 with Creative Arts and Social Studies. Nationwide, 1,303,913 candidates are registered to take the KPSEA across 35,573 centers.