A Grade 9 learner in Kisii County has reportedly been prevented from sitting the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) because her name was missing from the examination system. The case has raised questions about candidate registration and prompted calls for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to verify examination records earlier.
The learner, who reportedly has attended the school since the first term, sat internal examinations and served as a school prefect, could not join her classmates when the assessment began on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Her father said he was shocked by a telephone call telling him that his daughter would not be allowed to sit the assessment.
"I got a call that my child was not sitting for the assessment. I wondered why because she has been in that school since the first term and even sat for their internal exams, so why is this one different?" he asked.
Dispute over who failed to register her
The family sought an explanation from the school on why the learner's details were not captured in the examination system and whether it could be fixed.
According to the family's account, the girl's mother visited the school but was referred to a former principal who has since been transferred to another station. The learner's uncle said the school was blaming the former principal for allegedly failing to register the girl, while the current administration said it did not know of the omission.
The circumstances of the missing registration have not been independently established, and it is unclear at what stage the alleged error happened. The family remains concerned that the problem was apparently not identified earlier, despite her attendance, participation in school activities and performance in internal examinations.
Call for registration printouts a month early
The case has strengthened calls for KNEC to give schools computer-generated candidate registration printouts at least one month before national examinations and assessments.
Early issuance would give school administrators, examination centre managers and learners time to verify details and report missing names, incorrect personal information and other discrepancies before the assessment period begins. Schools would compare the printouts with their enrolment records, and any omissions would be reported to KNEC within a set period so that the council can investigate and resolve them before materials are distributed.
The writer notes that a learner may attend classes, sit school-based examinations and take part in other activities without knowing that her registration for a national assessment has not been completed. Under the proposal, schools would also have to confirm that they had checked the lists and reported discrepancies within the prescribed timelines. KNEC could strengthen the process by providing a formal reporting channel, setting deadlines for corrections and issuing confirmation once discrepancies are addressed. Parents could also be encouraged to verify their children's examination details through the school.
Early printouts would not eliminate every administrative error, but they would provide an additional safeguard.
Learner appeals for Ministry intervention
The learner expressed frustration, saying she had worked hard in school and was devastated by the possibility of missing the national assessment.
"I am very sad that I will not do the national exams. I have always done well in school, and they say my name is not in the system. I am so mad at them and angry. I need the Ministry of Education to step in and help me," she said.
The family's immediate concern is whether the problem can be resolved in time for her to take part in the assessment. Where responsibility is disputed between current and former school leadership, an independent examination of the registration records would help establish the facts without prematurely assigning blame.
It is not clear whether the Ministry of Education has responded to the appeal or whether the learner will be allowed to sit the assessment. The Ministry and KNEC should also clarify the procedures available when a learner's details are missing, including the options when an omission is found after an assessment has started.
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