TSC Releases New Guidelines for Exam Supervisors and Invigilators

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued new directives tightening the selection and deployment criteria for teachers involved in supervising and invigilating upcoming national examinations scheduled between October and November.

In a circular signed by acting CEO Evaleen Mitei, the TSC outlined enhanced requirements for those overseeing the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA). All nominated personnel must be registered in the Commission’s CP2 system by 26 September. 

This digital platform, used to track and vet examination officials, has been updated to prevent teachers from being assigned to schools where they have worked within the past three years. Staff must also declare any personal interest in the centres they are assigned to, with declarations submitted to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) through sub-county directors and centre managers.

Only teachers who are qualified, registered, and currently employed by the TSC will be eligible to participate. For KCSE, supervisors must be secondary school teachers with at least five years of teaching experience and prior involvement in national examination invigilation. 

Preference will be given to senior teachers and heads of department. Invigilators for KCSE must be primary school teachers with a minimum of three years’ experience. All supervisors will be rotated weekly, and handover notes will be required to ensure continuity.

At the primary and junior secondary levels, KPSEA supervisors must be primary school teachers with at least three years’ experience and prior invigilation history. For KJSEA, supervisors must hold a diploma in education and be currently teaching in secondary schools. 

Invigilators for both KPSEA and KJSEA must be registered teachers with at least three years’ experience, serving in primary or junior secondary schools. In examination centres hosting both KPSEA and KJSEA, separate supervisors will be appointed for each assessment if each group has 30 or more candidates. 

The ratio of invigilators to candidates is set at one per 20, while KCSE centres will deploy one supervisor for every 200 candidates. For stage-based pathways, where learners require more individualised support, the ratio will be one invigilator for every 10 pupils, with teachers supervising their own students.

Centres for learners with special needs, including those sitting the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and Kenya Pre-vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA), will not have assigned supervisors or centre managers. However, centres hosting visually impaired candidates must have at least one Braille-proficient invigilator present.

Schools hosting examination centres will remain responsible for collecting and returning exam materials. In cases where candidates are hosted by another institution, both the hosting and hosted schools will have designated centre managers.