The Ministry of Education is facing growing criticism over the fate of more than 9,000 primary school pupils who did not sit for the final Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam in 2023.
These learners, who formed the last batch under the 8-4-4 education system, are now at risk of missing out on joining secondary school as Kenya fully transitions to the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi raised the alarm in Parliament, urging fellow lawmakers to take urgent steps to protect the future of these vulnerable learners.
She stressed that most of the affected pupils are still eager to continue with their education and complete their primary school journey.
Elachi noted that the majority of the pupils who failed to take the KCPE exams are girls.
Many of them were affected by early pregnancies, long-term illnesses, and other serious personal or family challenges. “It is estimated that more than 9,000 pupils were unable to sit for the final KCPE examination in 2023 and in earlier years.
Most of them are girls who faced difficulties like early pregnancies, sickness, and unexpected life events,” said Elachi.
“These learners are now in danger of being left behind simply because they did not sit for KCPE, which is no longer available,” she added, pointing out the urgency of finding a solution before the full shift to CBC takes effect.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) conducted the last KCPE exam in 2023 under the 8-4-4 system.
According to KNEC data, a total of 1,406,557 candidates were registered for the exam that year — including 721,544 boys and 685,017 girls. However, 9,354 of those students never showed up for the exams, missing their chance to proceed to high school.
Elachi also raised concerns about students who might be barred from taking the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams in future years.
She emphasized the need to address this problem now, especially since the last cohort under the 8-4-4 system is expected to sit for the KCSE in 2027 — marking the end of that curriculum and the full implementation of the CBC.
The MP called on the Ministry of Education and KNEC to present a clear plan on how they intend to support and accommodate the pupils who missed the KCPE exam.
She insisted that the government must not abandon learners who still wish to continue with their education but were unable to complete the national exam due to circumstances beyond their control.
Many Kenyans have also expressed concern that unless action is taken soon, thousands of young people — especially vulnerable girls — may be permanently locked out of the education system.
Lawmakers and education stakeholders are now urging the government to either offer a special exam window or alternative pathways to allow these pupils to progress to secondary school and avoid losing their future entirely.
Join Gen Z & Millennials New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
