KCSE starts today with English and Chemistry papers

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) written examinations start today.

A total of 831,015 candidates are expected to write their exams at the 10,413 registered centres. It is an increase from the 752,981 students who sat for the national test at the 10,437 stations last year.

This 78,034 increase in candidate numbers has been attributed to the country waning off the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the learning environment.

The candidates will start the KCSE with English Paper One and Chemistry Paper One.

Others started in Feb., 28

They will then write Mathematics Paper One and English Comprehension. These papers are a follow-up of the practical and oral exams for French, German, Arabic and sign languages, which began on February 28.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha will supervise the examination distribution and monitoring exercise in Mombasa  County. He will commence the day’s activities at the Nyali DCC Office Container.

Last week, he warned schools and candidates against cheating. He said those caught will face severe consequences.

“I urge teachers involved in the administration of the Form Four national examination not to be tempted to use phones or cheat,” he said.

Only last week, a Zetech University student was arrested for allegedly selling fake KCSE and KCSE papers. Oscar Brighton was arrested yesterday by undercover agents attached to the Kenya National Examination Council's monitoring and surveillance unit.

KCSE papers' WhatsApp Group

"He had created several WhatsApp groups where candidates were asked to deposit between KSh1,600 for Humanities to KSh2,600 for Sciences," said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. "Brighton was an admin of two groups with a total of 72 participants, who had been sold the examination papers."

The examination papers will be served from 483 distribution centres.