This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
June 18, 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education calendar, with the 2020 national exams now set to take place in April 2021 if schools reopen in September this year, according to Education CS George Magoha.
Magoha made the announcement during a Senate ad hoc committee on COVID-19 meeting on Thursday, where questions about the National exams dominated the discussion.
He revealed that the government is working to reopen schools in September, and if this happens, the KCPE and KCSE exams will be held in April 2021.
Magoha consulted with parents before making the announcement, and he stated that the latest they can hold the exams and still avoid a further delay is April 2021.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of further delays, stating that beyond April 2021, the government will have to declare its intentions.
The announcement comes as a relief to parents and education stakeholders who have been concerned about the long periods that children have been left at home due to the pandemic.
According to the Machakos children's office, 4,000 underage pregnancies have been reported since the beginning of the year, highlighting the need for schools to reopen as soon as possible.
