KNEC Makes Special Arrangements For KCSE Students In Kenya’s World Cup Squad

• The Kenya National Examinations Council has granted a special request to the eight players of the Junior Starlets team
• The players are expected to be part of the team that will represent Kenya in the women's U17 World Cup in October
• However, the players were presented with a dilemma of choosing between the competition and sitting for KCSE

A group of eight players in the national women's U17 team, Junior Starlets, who were set to sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams later this year, can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) came to their rescue.

The players had been torn between sitting for the exams and representing Kenya at the women's World Cup, which will more or less coincide with the exams.

Junior Starlets journey to the World Cup

In June, the girls made history by becoming the first Kenyan team of any age group or gender to qualify for a FIFA World Cup competition.

Under Mildred Cheche's tutelage, the girls embarked on a gallant run that began in the first round. They received a bye after the Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew. They then dispatched Ethiopia 3-0 in the penultimate round to set up a clash against Burundi.

The Junior Starlets beat Burundi 5-0 over two legs to make history.

When do the 2024 KCSE exams begin?

However, eight of them were soon presented with the challenge of choosing between the games and the exams. The World Cup will be held in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3. KCSE, meanwhile, will begin on November 4 and end on 22, but Home Science and French will be done earlier.

KNEC to provide exams to Junior Starlets

In a letter to the Ministry of Sports, KNEC confirmed that it will make special arrangements for the team's affected members to take their exams when they return.

"The Council will liaise with the centre managers of the affected six secondary schools and make appropriate arrangements within the examination period for administration of the 2024 KCSE papers that clash with the world cup fixtures of the Kenyan team," read part of the letter from KNEC's CEO Dr David Njengere.

Who were the affected World Cup U17 girls?

While applauding the girls for their historic achievement, the KNEC head honcho advised them to keep reading for the exams. The right girls include Christine Adhiambo, Marion Serenge, Clare Meries, Rebecca Odato, Velma Awuor, Velma Nabwire, Lorine Ilavonga, and Quinter Adhiambo.

Who will Kenya face in the U17 World Cup?

Kenya were drawn into Group C, where they will play England, North Korea and Mexico.

Kenyan captain goes missing

TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that U20 Rising Starlets captain Jane Hato had been reported missing ahead of a vital match, prompting a public appeal from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

Hato, who recently signed with Kenya Police Bullets FC, was expected to join her team for their trip to Ethiopia for CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers but failed to show up at the meeting point. She has since been found.