Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba Launches 2025 National Examinations in Bureti

Bureti, Kericho County, October 27, 2025 (KNA) – Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has officially launched the 2025 national examinations, confirming that a record 3,428,729 candidates will sit for various national assessments this year — the highest number in Kenya’s history.

Speaking at the Litein Deputy County Commissioner’s offices in Bureti, Kericho County, CS Ogamba said 1,298,089 Grade 6 learners will sit for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in 32,843 centres between October 27 and 29, 2025.

He further noted that 1,130,669 Grade 9 learners will take the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), also in 32,843 centres, from October 27 to November 3, 2025. In addition, 2,414 candidates will sit for the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) across 391 centres, while 1,479 learners will undertake the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) in 175 centres between October 27 and 30, 2025.

Ogamba also confirmed that 996,078 candidates are currently sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 10,771 centres, which began earlier with French, German, Arabic, Sign Language, Home Science, and Music practicals.

“We are gathered here to oversee the opening of the first KNEC examination container. This morning marks the official start of the national assessments,” the CS stated.

He noted that the rise in candidate numbers reflects the government’s success in expanding access, inclusivity, and retention under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.

To ensure smooth coordination, KPSEA and KJSEA examination materials will be collected once daily at 6:00 a.m., while KCSE papers will be collected twice — at 7:00 a.m. for morning sessions and 12:30 p.m. for afternoon sessions.

The CS highlighted a series of innovations and enhanced security measures introduced this year to strengthen examination integrity. These include:

• Revised Question Paper Formats: KPSEA will feature only multiple-choice questions, while KJSEA will combine multiple-choice and structured (essay-type) questions. Candidates will both shade and write answers in their question papers, which are personalized with their names, centres, and unique random numbers.

• Anonymized Marking: Identification sections will be detached and packed separately to eliminate examiner bias.

• Enhanced Security Markings: Examination papers now carry advanced colour codes and security features to prevent mix-ups or premature exposure.

• Smart Digital Padlocks: KNEC is piloting smart digital padlocks in 250 examination storage containers nationwide, linked to the KNEC Command Centre for real-time monitoring of opening and locking times.

CS Ogamba added that during KCSE administration, all personnel within examination centres — including centre managers, invigilators, supervisors, security officers, and support staff — must surrender their mobile phones upon receipt of examination materials. The phones will be secured in designated lockers until the end of the day’s sessions to prevent unauthorized communication.

He emphasized that the National Police Service will oversee KCSE security, while other assessments — KPSEA, KJSEA, KILEA, and KPLEA — will be managed under school-based arrangements by education officials and school managers.

“I wish to thank all our teachers, security officers, examination officials, parents, and learners for their cooperation and dedication. I encourage all candidates to remain calm, focused, and honest throughout the examination period. Integrity and hard work are the true pathways to success,” CS Ogamba said.

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to safeguard the credibility of the 2025 national examinations, saying, “Let us ensure these examinations are remembered not only for their scale but for the integrity with which they were conducted and the hope they bring to our nation’s children.”