Kajiado — Students in Kajiado North Sub County are participating in the final Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams under the 8-4-4 system, marking the end of an era for the examination system that has been in place for nearly four decades.
According to Kenya News Agency, the 2023 KCPE exams are being phased out, to be replaced by a competency-based curriculum known as the 2-6-6-3 structure.
The outgoing 8-4-4 system has been characterized by a high level of competitiveness among schools striving for top rankings. Critics argue that the system did not adequately cater to students with diverse abilities. This system replaced the 7-4-2-3 curriculum, which consisted of seven years of primary education, four years of secondary education, two years of high school, and three to five years of university education. The new competency-based curriculum will feature two years in preprimary, six years in primary, and six years in junior and senior high school.
Proponents of the new curriculum, known as CBC, argue that it is better suited to identify and nurture the potential of all students. This year’s KCPE exams have approximately 1.4 million candidates registered nationwide, while the Kenya Primary School Assessment (KAPSEA) will have about 1.28 million students. The exams will be conducted over a span of three days, with the final paper in Social Studies set for Wednesday.
Unlike the KCPE, where the exam contributes 100% to the final score, the KAPSEA assessment will account for only 40% of the students’ final grade. The remaining 60% will come from assessments conducted in grades 4, 5, and 6. This change comes after a successful rehearsal was carried out last week on Friday for both the KCPE and KAPSEA exams.