Candidates miss exams over Covid-19

Hundreds of Standard Eight and Grade Six candidates failed to write their national examinations yesterday due to logistical hitches in various parts of the country.

The worst hit areas were in the North Rift where candidates from as many as 52 examination centres failed to sit their papers after their institutions closed down due to the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

People Daily established that the private schools had registered candidates for the Grade Six exam but closed down due to the effects of the pandemic that adversely hampered their operations. 

Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan witnessed the situation yesterday when he distributed over the distribution of examination materials in Uasin Gishu County. 

“We have noted that several KPSEA materials have not been picked because registration took place when learners were in Grade Three, but during the Covid-19 pandemic they closed down,” said Jwan. 

According to the PS, at least 52 centres closed down as they could not cope with the effects of the pandemic, which adversely impacted on their operations. 

Learners moved

“Some had six, others had five registered candidates but the learners moved to other schools,” said the PS. 

He assured parents and schools that the Ministry will keep the exams safe, devoid of any malpractices.

“The ministry is flexible in supplying more materials in schools with insufficient examination papers,” said Jwan.

In neighbouring Baringo, the government was forced to transfer several examination centers to safer places due to insecurity.

“We have moved examination centres like Kapindasum, Arabal, Rugus, Ngelecha, Emobosos and Sinoni to neighbouring safe schools not because of insecurity challenges but due to the fact that residents are still returning to their ancestral lands from where they had taken refuge,” said Baringo county commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa.

He added that examination centres like Kapindasum, Rugus and Ngelecha Primary schools could not hold examinations since its infrastructure were vandalised by bandits while others are in deplorable state after the locals fled the affected areas because of bandit attacks.

Jaldesa assured area residents and parents that schools that had closed down due to insecurity for the better part of the year will resume fully as examination centres starting next year.

 Among those sitting for the examinations in the county include at least 70 expectant girls. Out of this, 22 are sitting the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam and a further 48 are Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates.

Pregnant girls

Speaking in Kabarnet yesterday, Jaldesa said they have made necessary arrangements to ensure all pregnant girls sit their examinations without any challenges.

“The invigilators, supervisors and centre managers have been briefed and are aware of these cases and are able to handle whenever a challenge arises. We have instructed exam officers in the vast county to be vigilant for any other emerging issues like illness that may arise in the course of the examination period,” he said.

He made the remarks as President William Ruto assured all the over three million candidates sitting their exams of their security and that the exercise will go on uninterrupted.

“The government has put in place adequate measures for all candidates to sit their exams in a conducive and peaceful environment. That is why we have mobilized our security personnel to ensure that exams are taken in all centres. We will have exams in all centres for our children there is adequate security so that we do not distract children from carrying out their exams,” said President Ruto as he witnessed distribution of exam papers to candidates at Joseph Kangethe Primary School, Kibra, Nairobi.

In Nakuru, Jwan said that the marking of KCPE exam will commence soon after the last paper is done today. He said the government was ready to begin the marking exercise, stating that examiners have already reported to their stations. 

“We expect the marking exercise to begin as soon as the candidates conclude the last paper today,” said Dr Jwan. 

He made the remarks after supervising distribution of exam materials at Nakuru East Deputy County Commissioner’s office.