Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) says many of the materials being sold as CBE support resources have never undergone official review and approval, despite being aggressively marketed to schools across the country.
KNEC says the increase has been driven by awareness drives across the country and growing urgency among learners and adults who want to secure the KCSE certificate before the current system is phased out.
The post, widely shared online, alleged the move was intended to enhance transparency, neutrality, and public trust in the management of national examinations, prompting KNEC to issue a warning
KNEC said the platform is managed by its Educational Assessment Resource Centre (EARC) and has been developed to support educators involved in learner assessment, reporting and professional growth.
Under the new arrangement, learners will be awarded the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) together with a vocational or professional certificate linked to the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.
Speaking on Saturday during the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Homa Bay Branch Thanksgiving Ceremony, Mbadi said consultations with the Ministry of Education were already underway and the allocation was being integrated into the current budget process.
Figures from the 2025 National Assessment Insights show that the cohort that started Grade 3 in 2019 had 1.28 million learners. By the time they reached Grade 9 in 2025, the number had reduced to 1.13 million. This represents an 88.17 per cent retention rate, meaning 151,691 learners dropped out before completing junior school.
The information to be verified includes correct spelling and order of names, gender, date of birth, school of registration, and citizenship status. Citizenship is to be marked as (C) for citizens and (N) for non-citizens. Parents are also required to confirm the subjects registered for each learner.
The council explained that the exercise is meant to ensure all candidate records are correct and free from errors ahead of the national examinations. Parents and guardians are therefore required to go through the details that will be sent back and confirm that everything is accurate.
The program is designed to build the capacity of educators in developing quality test items that support effective assessment of learner competencies across primary, secondary, special needs, and teacher training college levels.
Speaking in Kakamega on Thursday, KNUT Kakamega North Secretary General Shadrack Muyaka criticised the slow pace of payments to exam invigilators, supervisors, and markers, noting that trust between teachers and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has been weakened.
School heads are now required to register candidates through KNEC’s computer-based assessment portal, with strict timelines and verification measures in place to ensure accuracy and accountability.