CHILDREN

Why is Grade 8 Important?

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Grade 8 is a very important in all schools throughout Kenya, for this is not just the pupils' last year in primary school, but the year they will take extensive examinations at its conclusion. These pupils are even given a special name--candidates. All year they learn and study to perform their best on the KCPE--Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. These exams are spread over three days in which the schools are closed to everyone except the candidates, the Head Teacher, the proctors, and the school cook. All across Kenya, all primary schools will take the same exams at the same times. About two weeks to a month after the exams, the results are released. Each candidate will receive a number from 500--a perfect score--down to 0. The significance of this score is that the higher the score, the better of secondary school that will invite the candidate to join their school. Each pupil tries their best and the schools celebrate their top scorers, as does the whole country. It is an important time in the life of each pupil.