The Kenya National Examination Council has shut down 162 examination centres that have registered less than forty (40) candidates in the two national examinations for the 2021 academic year scheduled on March 2022.
According to KNEC, 112,000 more candidates were registered for national examinations this year as compared to 2020. Despite the increase in candidature, examination centres with less than 40 candidates will be closed.
The number of KCSE and KCPE examination centres have been reduced by KNEC by 162 in response to the May circular which directed schools less than forty candidates to have their candidates registered in neighbouring schools.
Following this move, the number of KCPE centres has decreased from 28,467 to 28,329 and the number of KCSE centres has decreased from 10,437 to 10,413.
Knec closed 24 secondary schools and 138 primary schools examination centres.
The most affected are the private schools that have been pushing for the number of candidates to be reduced to the usual 15 candidates.
Excess of 34,085 students has registered for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam this year in the two national examinations.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njeng’ere said yesterday that the increase in KCSE and KCPE registered candidates in 2021 will consequently raise the cost of administering the two examinations hence the move to reduce the examination centres with less than 40 candidates.
