School heads are pushing for urgent talks with examination officials and teachers’ representatives in a bid to resolve a growing dispute threatening the smooth administration of the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
The proposed meeting involving the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is intended to find common ground before the examinations get underway.
The intervention comes amid concerns over teachers’ participation in examination administration following KUPPET’s directive urging its members to stay away from KNEC activities until their grievances are addressed.
With the first KCSE oral and practical papers scheduled to begin on Monday, October 19, education stakeholders are under pressure to reach an agreement and prevent the dispute from affecting candidates.
KUPPET demands better remuneration for examination duties
KUPPET has demanded improved remuneration for teachers involved in examination supervision, invigilation and marking, arguing that the current rates do not adequately reflect the workload and responsibilities involved.
The union has also raised concerns about the working conditions of examination personnel, insisting that teachers should receive better terms before taking up examination duties.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori has warned that the union will not ask its members to participate in KNEC activities without assurances that their concerns will be addressed.
The standoff has placed school administrators in a difficult position as they prepare candidates for the national examinations while trying to ensure that all logistical arrangements are in place.
The KCSE examinations are scheduled to run until November 20, with the main written papers beginning on October 28.
School funding challenges compound examination concerns
The examination period is also expected to place additional demands on schools, which have raised concerns about inadequate government capitation and the rising cost of purchasing laboratory supplies and other materials needed for practical papers.
KESSHA chairperson Willy Kuria has previously highlighted the financial challenges facing schools, saying administrators have been forced to rely on suppliers’ credit and other arrangements to meet essential expenses.
The funding concerns add to the pressure on school heads, who must ensure candidates are adequately prepared even as the dispute over examination personnel’s remuneration remains unresolved.
Proposed talks aim to prevent examination disruption
A successful meeting between school heads, KNEC and KUPPET could help ease tensions and provide a framework for addressing the concerns before the examination period gathers momentum.
For thousands of candidates, the priority remains having a peaceful examination period in which administrative disagreements do not interfere with their opportunity to complete the national assessment.
The outcome of the proposed talks is therefore expected to be crucial in determining whether the parties can reach a compromise and guarantee the smooth administration of this year’s KCSE examinations.
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