Council well prepared to handle national exam

The Kenya National Examinations Council has put in place measures to ensure exam centres located in remote areas receive the Kenya

Certificate of Secondary Education examination papers on time. KCSE exams start today all over the country, a few days earlier this year as compared to previous years.

Knec deputy secretary-general Moses Ngala said the early dispatch of the exam papers was to curb delays experienced in the past.

“We have heard the concerns from the DEOs as well as their proposals to counter the challenges and we have proper measures to make this year’s exams run smoothly in the remote regions,” he said.

Delays in the past in some regions were caused by inaccessibility due to heavy rains, forcing institutions to seek alternative means at the last minute.

On Monday, KCSE candidates in Kisumu spent the better part of the day familiarising themselves with the examination halls.

Schools like Kisumu Boys High School, exuded confidence that the candidates would meet their targeted mean grades.

School principal Denis Abok, however, raised concerns that the high cost of goods might have an impact on some required items for the exams such as apparatus for practicals and gas for experiments that require heating.

Other schools like Lions High took measures to ensure there will be no exam malpractices.

The exams have also attracted 56 private candidates at the DHT High School, some of whom are businessmen and people in paid employment.

In other areas, candidates were disappointed at the delay of the rehearsals due to lateness of some exam officials.

In Kisii County, more than 40 students in a private school, Upridge Mixed, will not sit for the exam because they were not registered. Mr David Ong’au, the manager, said that they failed to register the students because of non-payment of fees and absenteeism.

Area education officer Martin Mwalo asked parents to be checking with his office or the schools whether their children had been registered to avoid such scenarios.

In Nyamira County, the exams were received amid fears that the heavy rains in the region may be a big challenge.

In Gucha, rehearsals took place amid stern warnings to the students against cheating in the exam. Last year, the region saw a high number of results cancelled due to exam irregularities.

Coast provincial director of education Tom Majani dispatched the exam papers, saying, they were ready to evacuate candidates in case there were floods in some areas.

Mr Majani said that candidates likely to be affected were from Kilifi and Msambweni districts, but they had put in place measures such as a helicopter to ensure that all candidates did their exams.

Security in Baringo County has been boosted with police sent to cattle-rustling-prone areas to ensure the exams go on smoothly.

In Chepalungu, supervisors and invigilators were warned against helping students cheat in the exams. Four-wheel-drive vehicles had been lined up incase some roads were rendered impassable by the heavy rains.

Reported by Bozo Jenje, Valentine Obara, Henry Nyarora, Benson Nyagesiba Wycliff Kipsang, Jackline Moraa and Geofrey Rono