By Michelle Ndaga
More than 996,000 secondary school students across Kenya on Tuesday began the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, starting with oral and practical assessments in various subjects.
According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the hands-on sessions will continue throughout the week before the written papers commence on November 4 and run until November 21, 2025.
The examinations mark a historic moment as the final cohort under the 8-4-4 education system, ahead of the full transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) next year.
KNEC officials said the national exam season this year involves a record 3.4 million learners sitting for different levels of assessment, including KCPE and CBC evaluations.
The council has reinforced strict security and anti-cheating measures, deploying additional invigilators, security officers, and surveillance tools to ensure integrity throughout the examination period.
Education stakeholders have commended teachers, parents, and candidates for their resilience amid the curriculum transition, urging students to remain focused and disciplined as they complete their final year under the outgoing system.
