KPSEA and KJSEA Exams Officially Begin, KNEC Has Over 2.4 Million Candidates

KPSEA and KJSEA examinations officially started on Monday, October 27 as part of the launch of CBC in Kenya
More than 3.4 million students are sitting the national exams this year, with 1.1 million joining Class 10
Education Minister Julius Bitok confirmed that all equipment, funds, and supplies have been put in place to facilitate the examinations
KNEC Executive Director David Njengare said Grade 9 students already have 40% of their marks, and get the rest through these exams

The 2025 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education (KJSEA) examinations officially started on Monday, October 27.

Education Minister Julius Ogamba launching the KJSEA and KPSEA exams for 2025. Photo: Julius Ogamba.
Source: Twitter

This marks another important step in the ongoing transition in the country from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC). The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) confirmed that all logistical and security arrangements have been completed for a smooth and reliable exercise.

Is KNEC ready to manage the KPSEA, KJSEA 2025 exams?

He added that all stakeholders were motivated, with funds and equipment fully available to support the process.

“We are happy to announce that we are ready to start the KPSEA and KJSEA exams. It is the first time that we have 1.1 million KJSEA students who will join the 10th grade,” Bitok said.

The Executive Director of KNEC, David Njengare, emphasized that the council was ready to manage the CBC assessments for the 2.4 million students taking various national exams this year.

He explained that Class 9 candidates already had 40 percent of their marks from the previous assessments, and the ongoing exams will account for the remaining 60 percent.

Education Minister Julius Ogamba celebrated the exams by opening the KNEC container at the offices of the deputy county commissioner of Bureti in Litein, Kericho county. He later visited Kipsigis Girls High School in the same county.

Measures to maintain integrity during KPSEA, KJSEA 2025 exams

KNEC also issued strict guidelines to maintain integrity, including the opening of examination containers at 6:00 am for KPSEA and KJSEA, banning mobile phones inside examination centers, and requiring all staff to carry ID cards for authentication.

The invigilators were instructed to ensure that only authorized personnel were present and that each examination paper was opened on time.

Njengere urged the candidates to remain calm, assuring them of fairness and transparency in the entire process. He warned that anyone found cheating would face cancellation of results, citing last year’s 711 KCSE cases as a reminder of KNEC’s zero-tolerance policy on wrongdoing.

“Last year, the KCSE exam results of 711 candidates were canceled due to malpractices. It was a painful decision, but it had to be done in the interest of enforcing integrity in our exams and assessments,” Njengere said.