The untold history about 8-4-4 system of education.

According to the Kenya National Examination Council CEO David Njengere, a total of 26 million people have sat the KCPE examinations.

This system of education has not only served Kenyans but also a total of 105,000 non-citizens, including South Sundanese residents of Kaunda region who were certified after sitting KCPE between 2005 -2008.

On Thursday Machogu said: “When the first set of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination results were released 39 years ago, few would have imagined that the KCPE story would last so long.”

He added: “I must make it abundantly clear that my mission is not to sing KCPE
dirges. Rather, I am here to celebrate and remind my fellow Kenyans that we are only transitioning from a structure of education that has served us well for four decades to one that will serve us even better.”

When the first cohort sat KCPE in 1989, there was apprehension because majority had just undergone rudimentary instruction in Kiswahili which was now one of the subjects they were being examined in.

After being schooled in mother tongue in their formative years, learners were then instructed in English and never had any contact with Kiswahili in their primary years until 8-4-4 came.

And after joining secondary school, they had to study for four years, forgoing the two years of high school, but had to stay for four instead of three years at the university.