In summary
- Registration of 2019 candidates both KCPE and KCSE to take place between 2nd January 2019 and end on 15th February, 2019
- Examination centres will not do double registration
- Schools to use student’s admission numbers in issuing index numbers to candidates
- One private examination center will be allowed per sub county.
- No late registration of candidates will be allowed.
Kenya National Examination Council KNEC, has instructed school heads to ensure 2019 candidates have been registered in time.
“The registration of candidates for the 2019 KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education), KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) and KCSE QT (Qualifying Test) examinations will start from 2nd January 2019 and end on 15th February, 2019,” reads a circular by KNEC Acting Chief Executive Officer (Dr. Mercy Karogo) dated 26th November, 2018.
The circular dated 26th November further reveals that schools with less that fifteen (15) candidates will not be used as examination centres. Instead, they will be hosted by nearby examination centres.
“The hosted school will retain its code (KNEC CODE) during registration of candidates. Schools with less than five (5) candidates are advised to register their candidates in another approved examination centre,” Said Dr. Karogo.
The council further warned school not to do double registration. In the schools especially private schools have been doing double registration where students who are perceived to be academically “weak” are registered differently from those who are academically gifted. This act will now be regarded as exam malpractice.
“Registration in two centres (double registration) will be treated as an examination malpractice,” Said Ms Karogo.
KCPE and KCSE 2019 Indexing
Another thing that will be done differently is indexing of candidates. Schools will now use student’s admission numbers in issuing index numbers to candidates. Previously, candidates would be subjected to examinations in order to use the merit list to award the index numbers.
“All candidates for both KCPE and KCSE examinations will be issued with an INDEX NUMBER as per the school’s ADMISSION REGISTER, NOT class performance as was the case in previous years,” The council advises.
“The Kenya National Examinations Council wishes to deviate from this practice and advise all head teachers and Principals to assign index numbers as per the admission register issued to the pupils/ students as they joined school,” reads, in part, a KNEC circular dated 22nd January 2019.
However, the admission numbers will not be used when feeding details onto the KNEC registration portal as they will be converted to reflect the County code, Sub- County code, School examination Centre code and the student’s index number.
The student’s index number shall be written in 3 digits i.e 001 for a student who reported first to school; of the available candidates per centre. Consequently, the Index Number to be fed onto the KNEC portal shall be in the order; COUNTY CODE (2 Digits);SUB-COUNTY CODE (3 digits);SCHOOL EXAMINATION CENTRE CODE (3 Digits);CANDIDATE’S NUMBER AS PER THE ORDER GENERATED FROM THE ADMISSION LIST (3 Digits).
Private candidates KCSE 2019
The council also directed that all private candidates be registered at designated examination centres in the Sub-County.
Only one private examination center will allowed per sub county.
“KNEC will only allow one private examination centre per Sub County. Private candidates are not allowed to individually deposit money into the KNEC collection accounts and Sub County Education Officers are asked to ensure compliance to this regulation,” the circular states.
Late registration
As has been the case, there shall be no late registration of candidates in 2019. This means, candidates who shall have not registered by the 15th of February, 2019, will have to sit for their examinations in 2020.
The government will continue meeting the examination fees for all candidates (in both public and private schools) except those who will be re-sitting the examinations, repeaters.
Verification of registration data will take place between 18th and 28th February, 2019. Teachers are advised not to sign for their candidates as there will be no window for candidates to sit for any subject as under protest in the 2019 examination.