Schools hit by KCSE delay

Candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams in upper Eastern and the North Rift have experienced delays.

The students waited for at least two hours to sit Mathematics Paper 1 due to delay in delivering the tests.

Most students in the region failed to start the exam on time after the materials were delivered to distribution centres as late as 8 a.m.

Among the areas that were affected by the delays include Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties were the examination materials arrived in Eldoret at 3 a.m.

“The materials arrived at Iten distribution centre at eight in the morning after they were first delivered to schools in Trans-Nzoia County,” said Anthony Barasa, District Education Officer Keiyo South.

Schools in Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties collect their materials from Eldoret while those in Trans-Nzoia and Elgeiyo-Marakwet Counties share transport to deliver materials to distribution centres.

“Lack of proper communication from the Kenya National Examinations Council head office to grassroots level is to be blamed for the delays,” said an education official who requested anonymity.

“We are forced to incur extra costs in hiring extra vehicles to transport the materials to reach schools on time."

Rift valley Provincial Director of Education Beatrice Adu was held up in a crisis meeting following the delays.

“The PDE is chairing a crucial meeting with examination officials and can not answer any calls at the moment,” said a secretary at the office on phone.

Security was however tight in most schools in the region as the examination entered its second day to curb any irregularities.

The national examinations, which will run for four weeks, started Thursday.