New poll date to affect final exams calendar

The Supreme Court decision to nullify the August 8 presidential poll and ordering a fresh election be conducted within 60 days will definitely interfere with this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Exams (KCSE) kick-off, sources at the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) say.

According to KNEC calendar, KCPE and KCSE exams were scheduled to start on October 31 and November 6 respectively, with the constitutionally-dictated fresh poll within 60 days lying in the region of November 1.

KCPE, which is done in three days, was to run up to November 2 while KCSE on the other hand runs for over three weeks.

With most primary and secondary schools countrywide used by the electoral body as polling stations, standard eight pupils and form four students will not be able to sit for their exams concurrently with the presidential elections.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Fred Matiang’i, will be holding a meeting with IEBC to craft on the way forward in matters elections and setting of new polling dates.

Matiang’i, who doubles up as the Acting Interior CS, will then hold consultative meetings, in relation with the date IEBC will set, with all education stakeholders among others KNEC, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and specific public and private schools boards.

KNEC will be waiting on the decision of the electoral commission to chat the way forward in regards to the national exams.

IEBC has the liberty to chose on an earlier date than November 1 as the ‘within 60 days’ provision is just but a ceiling date.

National exams running concurrently with the elections are not a possibility because nearly all public schools will be used as polling stations, and even if that could be a possibility, the security of the candidates could be at risk.