Updates on the Kenyan

Educational System
NAFSA Region V
Milwaukee, WI
October 28-30, 2009

Melissa Ganiere-Evaluator
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc
mganiere@ece.org
 Map of Kenya

Source:http://www.kenya-travel-safari.com/maps-of-kenya/kenya-map.html
 Timeline
1956 Royal Technical College Nairobi founded
1963 University of East Africa founded
1964 Kenya gains independence
1967 East Africa Examinations Council founded
(EAEC)
1974 EAEC issues first certificate
1980 Kenya National Examinations Council
(KNEC) founded
1985 Kenya implements 8+4+4 system
 Primary and Secondary
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC)
http://www.examscouncil.or.ke/
Established by the Government of Kenya in 1980 though an Act of Parliament
(CAP 225A)
Issued the KCE from 1980-1988, issues the KCSE from 1989-present

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education

8 years starting at age six

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

4 years at age 14
Seven subjects are required to sit the exam and they must include English, Kiswahili and
Mathematics.
Secondary school curriculum offers 21 subjects divided into groups.
English is the language of instruction starting at the secondary level in Kenya
 Examples
of
Secondary Documents
 Result Slip
•Provisional Document
•Issued Prior to the Official Certificate
The result slip is not a certificate. The Kenya National Examinations
Council reserves the right to correct the information given on result slips
which will be confirmed by the issue of certificates.
Kenya Certificate of
Secondary Education

Awarded by KNEC
Contains name of school
Various safety features

Represent completion of grades 9-12:

secondary school

Grading scale

A, A- =A
B+, B, B- =B
C+, C, C-, D+ = C
D, D- =D
E =F
Reverse of KCSE
 Subject Categories
Applied Subjects (a):
Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction,Power
Mechanics, Drawing & Design, Aviation Technology,
Electricity, Agriculture, Home Science, Art & Design,
Leatherwork, Ceramics, and Motor Mechanics

Other Subjects (b):

Arabic, French, German, Music, Accounting, Commerce,
Economics, Typing, Office Practice, Business Studies,
Computer Studies

Social Science/Humanities (c):

Geography, History & Government, Religious Education,
Social Science & Ethics
Calculated credits for approximately 6 credits per
year based on 8 subjects:
English: 4.25 Social Science/
Kiswahili: 3.25 Humanities, including
Math: 4.00 religion (c): 2.00
Biology: 2.50 Applied Subjects(a):
2.75
Chemistry: 2.50
Biological Science:
Physics: 2.50
2.00
Other Subjects (b):
Physical Science: 2.75
2.00
Calculated credits for approximately 6 credits per
year based on 9 subjects:
English: 4.25 Applied Subjects (a):
Kiswahili: 3.00 2.75
Physical Science 2.0
Math: 4.00
Biological Science 2.0
Biology: 2.00
Other Subjects (b):
Chemistry: 2.00
2.00
Physics: 2.00 Social Science/
History & Government Humanities Subjects
1.75 including religion (c):
Geography 1.75 1.75
Verification Resources &
Indicators of Fraud
Center Code
Registration Number
 C.S.I.

Credential
Sample
Investigator
 Tertiary Education
Council of Higher Education (CHE)
•Governmental body that oversees
university level work
•Established in 1980
•Universities Act published in 1989

Kenya National Examinations Council

•Issues certain craft certificates and
diplomas
 Public Universities
● University of Nairobi - Established in 1970
● Moi University - Established in 1985
● Kenyatta University - Established in 1985
● Egerton University - Established in 1987
● Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Established in 1994
● Maseno University - Established in 2000
● Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology
Established in 2007
Constituent Colleges
Egerton University
(i) Kisii University College - Established in 2007
(ii) Chuka University College - Established in 2007

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

(i) Kimathi Institute University College - Established in 2007
(ii) Taita Taveta University College - Established in 2007
(ii) Mombasa Polytechnic University College - Established in 2007

University of Nairobi
(i) Kenya Science Campus - Established in 2007
(ii) Kenya Polytechnic University College - Established in 2007

Kenyatta University
(i) Pwani University College - Established in 2007
(ii) Kitui College - Established in 2007
 Private Universities
Awarded Charters
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton - 1991
Catholic University of Eastern Africa -1992
Daystar University Awarded - 1994
Scott Theological College - 1997
United States International University - 1999
Africa Nazarene University - 2002
Kenya Methodist University - 2006
St. Paul’s University - 2007
The Pan Africa Christian University - 2008
Kabarak University - 2008
Strathmore University - 2008
 Letters of Interim Authority
• Aga Khan Univeristy-2002

• Kiriri Women's University of Science & Technology-2002

• Great Lakes University of Kisumu-2006

• Gretsa University

• KCA University-2007

• The Presbyterian University of East Africa-2007

• Adventist University of Africa-2008

• Mt. Kenya University-2008

http://che.or.ke/index.html
 Kenya Resources
• Kenya National Examinations Council
http://www.examscouncil.or.ke
• Ministry of Education
http://www.education.go.ke
• Commission for Higher Education
http://www.che.or.ke
• ECE Presents: The Educational System
of Kenya, Meyers, J.P., ECE 1993
• Kenya NOOSR
 Thank you!
•If you would like a copy of this
presentation, please visit our website:
http://www.ece.org/presentations

•For future questions, please contact me at

mganiere@ece.org