Principals Required to Register Students with Outstanding Fees for National Exams

Kenya National Examination Council Opens Registration for 2026 Exams

The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has officially opened the registration window for the 2026 national assessments and exams. This initiative covers three key examinations: the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The registration process is set to conclude on specific deadlines, with KJSEA and KCSE candidates required to complete their registration by March 31, while KPSEA candidates must do so by March 16.

Directives from the Education Cabinet Secretary

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has issued clear directives to school principals, emphasizing that all students should be registered for the 2026 national exams regardless of their school fee status. This directive aims to ensure that no student is excluded from taking the exams due to financial constraints.

Ogamba highlighted that he had received credible information indicating that some principals were refusing to register students with outstanding fees, which contradicts the ministry’s guidelines. He stressed that this practice is unacceptable and warned that administrators who fail to comply will face serious disciplinary action.

“We have received reports that some principals are not registering students to sit for examinations in 2026 because of fee balances. Let me explain to you, no principal should fail to register a student to undertake the examination in 2026 because they do not have school fees. If we find that that has happened, we will take serious administrative and disciplinary action against you,” warned the CS.

Parental Involvement and Reporting Mechanisms

In addition to the directives for school principals, Ogamba urged parents to actively participate in the registration process. He encouraged them to verify that their children have been properly registered for the 2026 exams. This proactive involvement is essential to prevent future disputes or complaints about unregistered students.

“Get involved and confirm that students who are candidates have been registered to do the examinations in 2026 so that you do not come later to say that your students were not registered,” he added.

Accessing the Registration Portal

The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has officially launched the registration portal for the 2026 exams, with the deadline set for March 31. Students across the country can now begin the registration process through the designated platforms.

The three examinations scheduled for 2026 include:

• Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) – For primary school students
• Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) – For junior secondary school students
• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) – For senior secondary school students

Schools are required to upload students’ data and relevant credentials via the examination council’s Competency Based Assessment (CBA) portal. The deadlines for uploading data are as follows:

• KJSEA and KCSE candidates – On or before March 31
• KPSEA candidates – On or before March 16

Transition to Competency-Based Education

It is important to note that the KCSE exams will be fully phased out in 2027. This marks the end of the 8-4-4 education system and paves the way for the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework. This transition is expected to bring significant changes to the curriculum and assessment methods used in Kenyan schools.