End of 8-4-4 as KCPE and KPSEA Rehearsals Begins on Friday
The start of rehearsals for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination this Friday will signify the culmination of an era. It will mark the end of the 8-4-4 primary school system after nearly four decades.
According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), KCPE and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment will take place simultaneously.
KCPE and KPSEA rehearsals will take place on Friday, October 27. Both exams will commence on Monday, October 30, and Knec will conclude them on Wednesday, November 1.
For 38 years, schools and students vied for top rankings, and the release of KCPE exam results sparked both joy and disappointment. Educators who taught subjects or led schools with consistently strong results received well-deserved promotions or rewards.
ALSO READ: Teachers in North Eastern Demand Firearms, Paramilitary Training for Self-Protection
Conversely, those whose subjects or schools underperformed faced demotions or reprimands. At times, concerned parents would demand the immediate replacement of a head teacher when a school’s results were unsatisfactory.
In 1985, approximately 360,000 candidates took the KCPE examination for the first time, introducing the 8-4-4 system.
Nearly four decades later, the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) takes the spotlight, evaluating learners through a new education system named Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
Tobias Khisa, the head teacher of Bungoma DEB Primary School, was part of the inaugural group that sat the KCPE exam in 1985. He recalls,
“Nobody knew what the paper looked like, as we had no past papers to refer to. When the results were released, it looked like everybody performed well, except for those who came to repeat from the old education system (CPE) who were learning Kiswahili for the last time.”
He believes that the 8-4-4 system was a positive development, saying, “As we transition to CBC, the country will produce job creators, not job seekers.”
ALSO READ: PSC Gives All Govt Employees 2 Months to Declare their Wealth
Mr. Khisa’s school, Bungoma DEB, will present 486 candidates for KCPE exams and another 516 for KPSEA.
During the era of the 8-4-4 system, passing the KCPE exam was often viewed as the gateway to a brighter future. It was a matter of life and death for students, determining their destiny.
According to Isaiah Okumu, a former pupil at Langata West Primary School, teachers used to reassure them that achieving high scores and attending a national or provincial school would secure a place in university and ensure a successful future.
Ruth Minish, director of Fesbeth Academy, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the 8-4-4 system was instrumental in shaping the careers of both parents and teachers. Fesbeth Academy will have 237 candidates.
Kakamega Primary School’s head teacher, Dickson Wanyangu, encouraged students to perform well and continue the tradition of high achievement.
He said, “Let us sign off in style, as we have always done. All we want is for each student to score above 350 marks.” Kakamega Primary School will present 546 KCPE candidates and 571 KPSEA learners for assessment.
ALSO READ: Primary School that Begun in 1993 Shuts Down Ahead of KCPE Exams, Terms Tough Economy
According to Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, this year’s KCPE had approximately 1.4 million registered candidates, the highest number in the exam’s history. Another 1.2 million sixth-grade learners are expected to take the KPSEA exam.
Before the 8-4-4 system, there was the 7-4-2-3 curriculum, consisting of seven years of primary education, four years of secondary education, two years of high school, and 3–5 years of university education.
In Taita Taveta County, at least 8,000 candidates will sit for their KCPE examination. County Commissioner Josephine Onunga emphasized that all examination centers will be strictly off-limits to unauthorized individuals.
In Narok County, officials overseeing this year’s national examination have been cautioned against engaging in any form of malpractice. Walter Wanjala, the Sub-County Director of Education, warned that any center manager, supervisor, or invigilator caught assisting students in exam irregularities would face legal consequences.
ALSO READ: Education Ministry Rejects Push for Standardized School Uniforms Nationwide
He stressed the importance of ensuring that the exams are conducted with fairness and integrity.
In Trans Mara East, a total of 14,946 candidates will take the national exams. Of these, 5,114 will sit KPSEA, 6,758 will sit KCPE, and 3,074 will sit KCSE. The examination will be managed by 135 officials across all 132 examination centers in the sub-county.
End of 8-4-4 as KCPE and KPSEA Rehearsals Begins on Friday
