Either some individuals in the Kenya Kwanza government are not serious about education or are trying to play some games in the sector.
After sparking chaos in university education with the shambolic new student aid model that has led to some needy students dropping out, the Ministry of Education is once again in the spotlight over the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education examinations.
With the tests entering their second week, the government is yet to disburse money to sub-county directors of education to fuel vehicles that collect and return exam papers and for other logistics.
This has forced these officials to strike informal agreements with local service stations to fuel the vehicles on credit, while others have had to use their personal money to finance a national exercise.
Reports from the ground also indicate that the officials have not received administrative funds, also known as the Authority to Incur Expenditure, since the beginning of the year, making it even harder for their offices to operate.
This situation is obviously the outcome of poor planning and the government’s failure to appreciate the need to adequately fund the management of exams.
The government needs to fund the Kenya National Examinations Council adequately so as to ensure the integrity, efficiency, and credibility of national exams. This will also help develop secure and reliable assessment systems and timely processing of results, as well as improve the capacity to manage logistics effectively.
Ultimately, sufficient resources are crucial for maintaining the quality and fairness of national examinations.
With enough resources, Knec can ensure that exams are accessible to all students, regardless of their geographical location or socio-economic status. This includes funding for transportation, facilities, and logistics in remote areas, so no candidate is disadvantaged.
National exams are critical not only in determining students’ academic journey but also their career paths. The government should therefore handle examinations with the seriousness they deserve.
It is unfortunate that the Education ministry has become the embodiment of incompetence and ineptitude, putting the dreams of the country’s children at peril.
