The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Ms. Eveleen Mitei, addressed stakeholders at a forum on Competency-Based Education (CBE) in Naivasha on September 3, 2025.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC), working closely with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), has released official guidelines for the supervision and invigilation of the 2025 national examinations and assessments. These rules come at a critical time, as over 2.5 million learners are expected to sit for national exams this year. The guidelines aim to streamline operations, safeguard exam integrity, and ensure that teachers deployed for supervision and invigilation are fully prepared.
This year’s exam season is particularly busy because it includes the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Pre-Primary Learning Assessment (KPLEA), and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA). With multiple examinations running within a short period, the role of teachers in maintaining discipline, fairness, and professionalism cannot be overstated.
Key Exam Dates for 2025
According to TSC circular No. 17/2025, the national examinations and assessments will run between 21st October and 21st November 2025. Below is the official timetable:
National Examinations Schedule – October/November 2025
| Examination Body | Rehearsal Date | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCSE | 17th October 2025 | 21st October 2025 | 21st November 2025 |
| KJSEA | 24th October 2025 | 27th October 2025 | 3rd November 2025 |
| KPLEA | 24th October 2025 | 27th October 2025 | 30th October 2025 |
| KPSEA | 24th October 2025 | 27th October 2025 | 29th October 2025 |
| KILEA | 25th October 2025 | 28th October 2025 | 30th October 2025 |
These timelines will help schools prepare adequately, while teachers must ensure readiness to play their roles in the most sensitive period of Kenya’s academic calendar.
Qualifications for Supervisors and Invigilators
The guidelines provide clear requirements for teachers selected to supervise or invigilate.
KCSE Supervisors must be serving secondary school teachers with a minimum of a Diploma in Education and at least three years of teaching experience.
KCSE Invigilators must be primary school teachers with a P1 certificate and three years of teaching experience.
KJSEA Supervisors can be secondary or junior school teachers, holding at least a Diploma in Education and three years of teaching experience.
KJSEA Invigilators are primary school teachers with a P1 certificate and three years of teaching experience.
KPSEA Supervisors and Invigilators must both be serving primary school teachers with at least a P1 certificate and three years of experience.
One of the most important clarifications in the circular is that serving teachers do not have to be TSC-employed. BOM teachers and private school teachers with at least three years of verifiable experience are eligible for deployment. This widens the pool of qualified personnel and reduces staffing shortages during the busy exam season.
Special Provisions in the 2025 Guidelines
The guidelines also highlight special considerations to ensure inclusivity, accountability, and effective exam administration.
- Learners with Visual Impairments: Each exam centre must allocate an invigilator familiar with Braille to support learners with special needs.
- Centre Managers’ Duties: Centre managers are responsible for verifying details of all supervisors and invigilators, taking daily online attendance via the CP2 system, and ensuring safe handling of exam materials.
- Allocation Ratios: Each centre must assign one supervisor for every 200 candidates and one invigilator for every 20 candidates. Centres with fewer than 30 candidates may be merged to ensure effective deployment of staff.
- Oral and Practical Papers: Only supervisors are required during oral and practical sessions.
- Rotation of Supervisors: KCSE supervisors will be rotated weekly, and outgoing supervisors must prepare written handover notes for their replacements.
Responsibilities of Teachers During Exams
Teachers deployed as supervisors and invigilators carry enormous responsibility. They must uphold strict professionalism, avoid conflicts of interest such as invigilating their own students, and refrain from discussing personal opinions or politics during exams. They are also expected to report any exam malpractice immediately to the centre manager.
By holding teachers accountable, TSC is reinforcing the principle that exam integrity is a collective responsibility. Teachers are the first line of defense in protecting Kenya’s education system from cheating and irregularities.
Why These Guidelines Matter
Examinations in Kenya have long been marred by irregularities. In fact, KNEC has consistently developed new measures to combat cheating, such as restricting access to exam containers and digitizing monitoring systems. The 2025 guidelines are another step in tightening supervision, ensuring fairness, and reducing malpractice cases.
These measures also highlight the government’s broader commitment to safeguarding the credibility of the education system. Without proper supervision, learners’ results lose their value, affecting not just individual futures but the country’s reputation in regional and global education standards.
Technology and Exam Supervision
Another key highlight of the 2025 guidelines is the increased use of technology in exam administration. Teachers and centre managers are now required to use the CP2 online attendance system daily. This digital shift is in line with TSC’s broader reforms, which include digitizing transfers and promotions.
Interestingly, this trend mirrors the growing role of AI and digital tools in education. Just as AI is helping teachers prepare lessons and track learner progress, TSC is leveraging technology to monitor teachers’ exam duties in real time.
Challenges Teachers Might Face
While the guidelines are clear, teachers still face practical challenges in the field. Travelling long distances to exam centres, balancing personal duties with extended exam periods, and dealing with pressure from parents or students are common struggles.
Additionally, questions remain about whether teachers will receive adequate allowances to cover transport, accommodation, and meals during the exam season. The workload is heavy, and without proper motivation, teacher morale may be affected.
Unions such as KNUT and KUPPET have previously raised concerns about teacher welfare during exams. For example, when KNEC introduced the Ksh. 500 fine for late CBC uploads, unions argued that teachers were being unfairly burdened with costs and penalties. Similar pushback may emerge if supervision guidelines are seen to ignore teacher welfare.
Impact on Learners and Parents
The new guidelines are not just about teachers—they also affect learners and parents. With strict supervision, parents can be more confident that their children’s results will reflect genuine effort. Learners will also be encouraged to prepare thoroughly, knowing that exam malpractice is being addressed more strictly.
The guidelines also align with new initiatives such as the KNEC Grade 10 selection portal, which emphasizes transparency and fair placement of learners into senior secondary pathways. Together, these reforms point to a holistic effort to reform Kenya’s education system.
Opportunities for Teachers
Despite the challenges, exam deployment also provides opportunities for teachers. Supervisors and invigilators often receive allowances, which can supplement their income during the exam period. In addition, the skills gained in exam management can strengthen teachers’ resumes.
Some teachers are also turning to digital side hustles to complement their income. Platforms such as online teaching and freelancing sites are becoming increasingly popular among educators. By balancing professional duties with extra income opportunities, teachers can improve their financial stability.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 exam supervision guidelines are comprehensive, clear, and timely. They underscore TSC’s and KNEC’s commitment to upholding exam credibility while also modernizing administration through technology.
For teachers, the message is simple: professionalism and integrity must guide every action during this exam season. For learners and parents, the new measures offer assurance that the outcomes will be fair and transparent.
As the exam period approaches, teachers should familiarize themselves fully with the guidelines to ensure compliance. Stakeholders must also continue to raise concerns about welfare and support to guarantee smooth exam administration.
Kenya’s education system stands at a crossroads where reform, accountability, and professionalism are more important than ever. The 2025 guidelines are a bold step in the right direction.
