Mid-term, visiting days and prayers for KCSE candidates will not be allowed in schools in third-term in the revised 2016 education calendar announced by Education CS Fred Matiang’i yesterday.

According to the CS, the new changes, which aim to curb the massive cheating in national exams are meant “to avoid unnecessary contacts between candidates and outsiders during the exam period.”

NOVEMBER STRICTLY EDUCATION MONTH

School terms have also been revised in the new changes with Matiang’i announcing that the month of November in third term, will strictly be set aside for national exams.

2^nd term has been prolonged by a week and will now run from May to August 12, from the initial 5^th, while third term will commence from August 29  and end on October 28  in order to keep away students who will not be sitting for the national exams .

This means that students from class 1-7 and form one to form three will only be in school for two months in third term.

“Going forward, examinations will be reduced to a maximum of four weeks. KCPE exams will start in November 1 and end on November 3 while KCSE will start on November 7 and end on November 30^,” Matiang’i said, adding that this will improve preparation for KCPE and KCSE. This year’s KCPE will start on November 1 to 3, while KCSE will run from November 7 to November 30.

HEADTEACHERS TO SUPERVISE EXAM CENTERS

Matiang’i also announced that head teachers will now be contracted by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to supervise exam centers and they will hence take full responsibility and accountability for any exam malpractices that may be reported in their centers.