New term dates suggested to allow learners peaceful exams

The Ministry of Education has set aside an official national examination season beginning in October 2012 in new term dates announced by the Minister, Prof Sam Ongeri, on Wednesday.

Prof Ongeri said, the new measures will increase the period students stay in school during the first and second terms but shorten the holidays for the two terms.

Third term holidays will, however, begin in October.

However, the measures have been opposed by teachers who argue that shortening the two holidays will seriously affect teachers enrolled in school-based advancement programmes.

Beginning in 2012, the first term will have 16 weeks while the second term has also been increased to 15 weeks.

The third term will, however, be eight weeks for non-candidates so that they allow candidates time to sit their exams.

In the past, the first and second terms usually ran for 13-14 weeks while third term was 10-11 weeks.

Schools will, therefore, close around October as opposed to November to allow candidates sit exams set to begin on October 19, next year.

“In order to ensure that there is peace and calmness during examinations, my ministry in consultation with stakeholders has found it necessary to have an examination season where all schools will be closed,” Prof Ongeri said as he released the 2011 KCPE results.

Given that first term starts on January 3, 2012, schools are therefore expected to close in the second week of April.

Prof Ongeri has called for input from stakeholders on the new term dates ahead of the reopening on January 3.

The Education secretary, Prof George Godia, is expected to issue a circular on the new term dates once the ministry has received input from stakeholders, the minister announced.

Prof Ongeri asked all stakeholders with comments to forward them to Prof Godia by January 13, after which he will release the circular.

According to the chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers Wilson Sossion, shortening of school holidays will heavily impact on their members on the school-based programmes.

“Our members who are on programmes to advance their education will be badly affected. We feel that this is an issue that needs to be debated further.

“It disadvantages both the teacher and the learner because the teacher will stagnate in knowledge development and transfer,” Mr Sossion said.

Might not work

Similar sentiments were expressed by the secretary general of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers Akelo Misori, who said that the proposal was not well-thought out and might not work.

He added that the proposal showed more focus on exams with nothing to ensure quality assessment.

However, Prof Ongeri’s proposal may have considered the fact that teachers usually retain students in schools for holiday tuition, which may now not be possible if the new measures are implemented.