The Ministry of Education has made changes to the start and end dates of the academic year as well as the dates when the national exams will be administered in the 2023 calendar.

The exams for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) have been rescheduled for the time period beginning on October 30, 2023, and ending on November 2, 2023, according to a circular signed by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.

Examinations for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will begin on November 3 and run through November 24. In the beginning, the KCSE took place between November 10 and December 1.

This week the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) sent an alarm over the slow registration of candidates expected to sit this year’s national tests.

Council Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said since the portal was opened on February 1, the number of candidates captured remains low.

He said the registration exercise for the 2023 KCSE and KCPE has started.

‘‘Registration is a very critical stage in exam administration. I appeal to all head teachers and principals to take register the candidates at the earliest time and avoid the last-minute rush,” said Njengere.

He also pleaded with parents to take keen interest in their children’s registration for the examinations.

“Parents should also take interest to confirm that their children are registered,’’ Njengere said.

Njengere said that learners interested in sitting for this year’s national examinations have two months to register with the Examination Council.

‘‘With regard to registration of candidates for the 2023 KCPE and KCSE, KNEC opened the portal for institutions to commence uploading of candidates’ data from February 1 which will end on March 30, 2023,’’ Njengere said.

This year registration of KCPE and KCSE is critical because it will be the last to be administered under the 8-4-4 system.

Holidays & Half-Term Breaks
According to the new changes the prolonged break will begin on April 22, 2023, while the revised dates for half-term are March 16–19.

Students will return to class on May 8 for the second half of the 14-week Term 2 after a break from June 29 to July 2. After that, there will be a two-week holiday for schools from August 12 to August 27.

When students return from their two-week break on August 28, Term Three, the shortest term of the academic year, will begin. Because of this, there won’t be a break during this term, which lasts until October 27.

The KCPE and KPSEA exams will follow, lasting a total of four days, while the KCSE test period will span three weeks.

According to the circular, the KCSE grading session would last from November 27 to December 15.

Students who completed their first term during the previous academic year and attended teacher preparation programs will begin their second semester on January 23 and run through April 21.

The third term will begin on May 8 and terminate on August 11 following a two-week break.

The Ministry of Education has made changes to the start and end dates of the academic year as well as the dates when the national exams will be administered in the 2023 calendar.

The exams for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) have been rescheduled for the time period beginning on October 30, 2023, and ending on November 2, 2023, according to a circular signed by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.

Examinations for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will begin on November 3 and run through November 24. In the beginning, the KCSE took place between November 10 and December 1.

This week the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) sent an alarm over the slow registration of candidates expected to sit this year’s national tests.

Council Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said since the portal was opened on February 1, the number of candidates captured remains low.

He said the registration exercise for the 2023 KCSE and KCPE has started.

‘‘Registration is a very critical stage in exam administration. I appeal to all head teachers and principals to take register the candidates at the earliest time and avoid the last-minute rush,” said Njengere.

He also pleaded with parents to take keen interest in their children’s registration for the examinations.

“Parents should also take interest to confirm that their children are registered,’’ Njengere said.

Njengere said that learners interested in sitting for this year’s national examinations have two months to register with the Examination Council.

‘‘With regard to registration of candidates for the 2023 KCPE and KCSE, KNEC opened the portal for institutions to commence uploading of candidates’ data from February 1 which will end on March 30, 2023,’’ Njengere said.

This year registration of KCPE and KCSE is critical because it will be the last to be administered under the 8-4-4 system.

Holidays & Half-Term Breaks
According to the new changes the prolonged break will begin on April 22, 2023, while the revised dates for half-term are March 16–19.

Students will return to class on May 8 for the second half of the 14-week Term 2 after a break from June 29 to July 2. After that, there will be a two-week holiday for schools from August 12 to August 27.

When students return from their two-week break on August 28, Term Three, the shortest term of the academic year, will begin. Because of this, there won’t be a break during this term, which lasts until October 27.

The KCPE and KPSEA exams will follow, lasting a total of four days, while the KCSE test period will span three weeks.

According to the circular, the KCSE grading session would last from November 27 to December 15.

Students who completed their first term during the previous academic year and attended teacher preparation programs will begin their second semester on January 23 and run through April 21.

The third term will begin on May 8 and terminate on August 11 following a two-week break.