The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) oral and practical examinations began on Monday, October 19, with the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) yet to call off its boycott of examination duties.
On October 14, the union directed its members to withdraw from all examination administration, supervision and marking duties, citing low pay, poor working conditions and unresolved disputes over allowances and unpaid arrears from previous examinations administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Kuppet is demanding a minimum flat rate of Sh4,000 per day for supervisors and other examination officials, as well as at least Sh100 for marking each examination paper.
The boycott also threatens the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), scheduled to begin on Monday, October 26, putting the smooth administration of assessments involving more than 3.6 million candidates at risk.
Concerned about potential disruptions affecting more than one million KCSE candidates, school principals, through the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), on Saturday pushed for a tripartite meeting involving Kuppet, KNEC and school administrators to resolve the dispute.
However, by Monday morning, there was no indication that the parties had reached a compromise as candidates began their oral and practical tests following rehearsals on Friday, October 16.
The KNEC timetable shows that French and German oral examinations, Kenyan Sign Language and Music practicals are among the first tests scheduled, running from Monday, October 19, to Friday, October 23.
Morning sessions begin at 8am, while afternoon sessions start at 2pm.
Arabic oral examinations will run from Monday, October 19, to Monday, October 26. Candidates have 15 minutes each for the oral and practical tests.
On Wednesday, October 21, candidates will undertake the Home Science (Foods and Nutrition) Practical Planning Session, including the large-print version. Each session is scheduled to last 30 minutes.
Visually impaired candidates will also sit the Home Science (Foods and Nutrition) Practical Planning Session in Braille, which is scheduled to last one hour.
Further practical examinations are scheduled for Monday, October 26, to Friday, October 30.
They include technical subjects such as Art and Design, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction, Electricity, Aviation Technology, Power Mechanics, Drawing and Design, Computer Studies and Home Science (Clothing Construction).
Any disruption or delay to national examinations risks increasing anxiety among learners who have spent years preparing for the tests.
With the main KCSE written papers scheduled to run from Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 20, resolving the impasse remains urgent.
A compromise would help safeguard the administration of the three national examinations and assessments and prevent learners from being disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.
