Kenya’s Ministry of Education has ruled out postponing the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations despite concerns that El Niño-related weather conditions could disrupt examination activities in parts of the country.
Education authorities are instead preparing contingency measures to ensure that candidates can sit for the national examinations even if heavy rains and flooding affect transport routes and examination centres.
The ministry is mapping examination centres considered vulnerable to extreme weather and developing alternative arrangements where necessary.
Possible measures include relocating examination centres, using alternative transportation options and deploying other emergency logistics to ensure examination materials and personnel reach affected areas.
Schools urged to prepare
Boarding schools have also been advised to make adequate preparations, including ensuring that sufficient food supplies are available in case flooding or other weather-related disruptions affect access to schools.
The preparations reflect growing concerns over the impact of extreme weather on education systems across Africa.
For students preparing for the KCSE, the ministry’s position means that candidates should continue with their examination preparations rather than anticipate a postponement.
Climate change and education
The situation highlights a growing challenge for education authorities across Africa: maintaining uninterrupted learning and assessment during extreme weather events.
Flooding can prevent students and teachers from reaching schools, damage educational infrastructure and disrupt the movement of examination materials.
Kenya’s contingency planning therefore provides an example of how education systems can prepare for climate-related disruptions while protecting the integrity of national examinations.
Source: Kenya Ministry of Education, as reported by Education News Kenya.
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