Parents urged to verify national exam registration before March 31

With the clock ticking towards the registration deadline for national examinations, parents have been urged to verify that their children have been duly registered to sit the tests later this year.

The appeal was made by Silas Obuhatsa, chairman of the National Parents Association, who warned that many parents often assume schools automatically complete the process only to discover too late that their children were not registered.  

“In the recent past, we have been seeing parents in panic when exams begin, claiming their children had not been registered.

‘‘This is the time to confirm the registration of your child,” said Obuhatsa.

The call comes as the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) continues registering candidates for three key national assessments: Kenya Primary School Education Assessment, Kenya Junior School Education Assessment and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

The examination council has also intensified its warning that there will be no late registration beyond March 31. The tests are scheduled to take place between October 19 and November 20 this year.

Obuhatsa urged parents and guardians with candidates in Grade 6, Grade 9 and Form 4 to personally visit their respective schools before the March 31 deadline to confirm registration details. “We call upon all parents and guardians with candidates in Grade 6, Grade 9 and Form 4 to visit their respective schools before March 31, 2026, to physically confirm that their children have been duly registered for the forthcoming national examinations,” he said.

“No parent should assume automatic registration without verification,” Obuhatsa emphasised.

He noted that although Knec and the Ministry of Education have fulfilled their mandate by facilitating the registration process and issuing reminders, parents must take personal responsibility for ensuring their children are captured in the system.

“This exercise is critical and time-bound. The Kenya National Examinations Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has already fulfilled its mandate by facilitating the registration process and issuing multiple reminders to schools and parents on the importance of timely registration,” he said.

According to Knec CEO, David Njengere, the current registration window opened on February 16 and is crucial not only for regular candidates but also for repeaters seeking to improve their grades.

“The registration of candidates for the 2026 KCSE examination is nearing the end. Please note that there will be no late registration,” said Dr Njengere.

“We are working on cleaning the registration data. Hopefully, we will share SMS and portal details with parents to confirm over the April holidays.”

He explained that the upcoming examination cycle carries additional significance as Kenya transitions from the long-standing 8-4-4 education system to the new Competency-Based Education.

“This is the second last KCSE examination as we transition to the competency-based curriculum. Therefore, candidates only have two chances left to sit the examination,” Njengere said.

Under the ongoing reforms, the 2026 KCSE will be among the final cohorts of candidates sitting the examination under the 8-4-4 system before it is fully phased out in 2027.

Knec has also provided provisions for repeat candidates. Those registering as full repeaters must take at least seven subjects to qualify for a certificate, while partial repeaters will receive results slips for the subjects they retake.

Njengere cautioned that candidates must ensure the accuracy of their registration details, noting that errors in names, subjects, or identification could have long-term consequences.

“It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure the accuracy of his or her registration details,” he said, adding that no amendments will be allowed once the deadline lapses.

The exam has for decades served as a gateway to universities, colleges and technical training institutions in Kenya.

Obuhatsa warned that failure to verify registration could have devastating consequences for learners.

“Any candidate who fails to sit for the national examinations due to non-registration will have no excuse, and the responsibility will squarely lie with the parent or guardian,” he said.

The parents’ body also raised concern over recurring cases where some private and APBET schools fail to register learners due to administrative challenges or system errors.

Obuhatsa urged such institutions to immediately report registration challenges to their respective Sub-County Directors of Education.

He also cautioned school administrators against misusing special subject options during registration.

“Kenya Sign Language is strictly for candidates who have impairment problems. Unfortunately, some schools have been registering normal students who have no impairment problems at all,” he said.

The warning follows incidents reported last year where several schools registered students for the subject despite them not having hearing impairments, raising concerns over compliance with examination guidelines.

Meanwhile, anxiety has been rising among some parents who fear their children could be locked out of the registration process due to school fees arrears.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has already warned school heads against denying students the opportunity to register for examinations due to unpaid fees.

“We have received reports that some principals are not registering students who are candidates for the 2026 examinations because of outstanding school fee balances. Let me clarify: examinations are paid for by the government,” said Ogamba.

He cautioned that any school administrator found linking registration to payment of fees would face disciplinary action.

“No principal should fail to register a student to undertake an examination in 2026 because they did not have school fees. If we find that that has happened, we will take serious administrative and disciplinary action against you,” he said.

Ogamba urge parents not to wait until the last minute.

“We want parents to get involved and confirm that the students who are candidates have been registered so that you do not come later to say you were not aware,” said Ogamba.