The Teachers Service Commission, (TSC) has banned all the social activities during the Third Term period to ensure students are well-prepared for the Examinations and are protected in their respective environments.

In a circular dated October 2, and signed by the TSC Acting CEO/Secretary Evaleen Mitei, the Commission stated that it is deeply concerned with the social and related activities taking place in schools during this sensitive period even though the ministry of education clearly banned such activities.

“The Commission is deeply concerned with the social and related activities taking place in schools during this sensitive period. To this end, the attention of all concerned persons is drawn to the Ministry of Education CIRCULAR REF-MOE.HQS/3/2/5 dated 27th August, 2025 titled ‘BAN ON SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE THIRD TERM,” reads part of the circular

The commission has therefore directed Heads of Institutions to ensure that during this period, only activities involving learners and designated school Chaplains and teachers take place at the schools; adding that interactions with external individuals SHALL not be permitted.

They are also to ensure that no social activities, such as teacher union campaigns, take place in schools during working hours or at any other time in a way that disrupts learning, exam preparations, and management.

“Ensure that schools only carry out activities and engagements explicitly permitted by the policy guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and the Commission, focusing on promoting exam integrity, learner safety, and the effective use of teaching and learning resources.” Reads the circular

The HoIs are also directed to enforce this advisory in their respective areas, and are, specifically asked to apprise the Officers involved in the examination management of these matters.

The teachers employer further emphasised that all Heads of Institutions and teachers must be present at school at all times, and they are expected to carry out their assigned roles in accordance with the established regulatory and administrative guidelines.

All staffs currently on leave were also directed to resume their duties to ensure the effective implementation of examination preparations.

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) has blocked Board of Management (BOM) and private school teachers from 2025 exam and assessment invigilation.

Knec says the teachers will not be used despite being registered by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Instead Knec has ordered only teachers employed by TSC to invigilate and supervise this years exams.

This it says is among a raft of measures it has taken to curb exam cheating this year.

Knec has also introduced a number of new changes that affect how the exams will be administered.

The Council has barred secondary school teachers from invigilating KCSE exams. Instead Knec has ordered primary school teachers to be used as invigilators.

Secondary school teachers will however be the ones to work as supervisors in the exams which start on 27th October.

Knec has also directed that primary school teachers not to be used as supervisors in the upcoming Grade 9 KJSEA.

The teachers will only be used as invigilators. Knec says these changes will address the issue of conflict of interest which is blamed for fueling exam irregularities.

“Supervisors and Invigilators should not be deployed to Centres that they have vested interest,” read the circular.

Knec also ordered that no supervisor or invigilator should be deployed in a school they have served in the last three years.

Teachers will be required to declare interest in the Examination Centre they are posted to through a declaration form to be issued by Knec.

Secondary school teachers are the ones who will also be used as supervisors in the 2025 KJSEA.

Primary school teachers will only supervise the Grade 6 KPSEA 2025 assessments.

Below is part of the Briefing Notes sent to TSC Sub County Directors by Knec to guide on 2025 exam administration.

ROLES OF TSC SUB COUNTY DIRECTORS

❖ Identify, Vet and deploy invigilators to centers before the start of the examinations and assessments;

❖ Confirm that all invigilators deployed to administer and manage the assessment are registered and employed by the Teachers Service Commission;

❖ Maintain discipline of Centre Managers, supervisors and invigilators deployed to administer the national examinations;

❖ Monitor Centre Mangers ,supervisors and invigilators during conduct of the examinations and assessments in their respective Sub-County to ensure that they are  conducted according to the KNEC rules and regulations;

❖ Verify Centre Manager, supervision and invigilation data before submission to KNEC.

The following are key to note during deployment:

Qualified, employed and registered with TSC

Have a CP2 account.

Not served in the same school for the last three years ( System is set this way).

Declare interest in the center.

Center managers must vet the deployed personnel

Every 200 = 1 supervisor, every 20 = 1 invigilator

KILEA / KPLEA- own learners.

Blind candidates- have an invigilator who can read braille

CENTRES WITH BOTH KJSEA AND KPSEA

❖ Centres with both KJSEA and KPSEA candidates will be allocated one (1) supervisor to manage both assessments provided the total number of candidates ranges between thirty (30) and two hundred (200).

❖ Where the numbers go beyond 200, an additional supervisor shall be engaged. This will be reflected in the CP2 system which will be opened on 26th September 2025.

KCSE SUPERVISORS

❖Will rotate weekly.

❖Prepare a handing over report that includes the following;

• List of invigilators
• Issues observed
• AB candidates
• Hardship cases

NOTE:

❖ During KCSE Oral and Practical examination papers, only supervisors shall be required to be at the examination centres.

❖ Sub-counties that have a challenge with recruitment should write to si@knec.ac.ke indicating the reason and assistance will be provided.

CHALLENGES

❖ Nominated officers / teachers missing the briefing meeting and the rehearsal sessions.

❖ Over recruitment;

❖ Non-Deployment into the CP2 system;

❖ Deployment of teachers who are not keen on the task;

❖ Cases of collusion  between some TSC officers, and centre mangers aimed at allocating supervisors and invigilators of their choice in order to facilitate cheating through manipulation with monetary incentives ;

❖ Ineffective rotation of the Supervisors;

REQUIREMENT FOR PAYMENT

❖ Transfer of other Field officers during the examination;

❖ Online filling Attendance registers

❖ Downloaded Signed and authenticated attendance registers.

❖ Verification shall be conducted on the CP2 system

CHALLENGES RELATING TO PAYMENT

• Name Mismatch
• Lack of authenticated Register
• Wrong Phone number
• Forgetting password

QUERIES

write to si@knec.ac.ke stating their name, name of exam,  center code where they worked, Phone Number and ID number