KCPE Exam to be Replaced by KPEA as Competency-Based Curriculum Takes Over

The Kenya Primary Education Assessment (KPEA) is set to replace the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.

Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chair John Onsati says this will happen when the final batch of Standard Eight pupils under the 8-4-4 curriculum sit their national exams at the end of this year.

The Kenya Primary Education Assessment (KPEA) will be administered to Grade Six students under the new Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC).

"We want to inform Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that KNEC will be administering the Kenya Primary Education Assessment Grade 6 summative assessment at the end of the year," Onsati announced during the release of the KCSE 2021 results.

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha said Grade 6, Class 8, and Form 4 students, who will take their exams in November and December, are required to register between April 27th and May 14th.

"The ministry has already set the examinations. I direct KNEC to start registering candidates for the exams," said Magoha.

He pointed out that more than nine million students will be under the CBC program when schools reopen on Monday. The new 2-6-3-3-3 curriculum is replacing the 32-year-old 8-4-4 curriculum. 

At least 60,000 teachers who will be in charge of the upcoming junior high school classes, Grades 7 and 8 will undergo a 10-month refresher course.