Matiang’i exam rules meant to punish students not Knec, says Raila

Cord leader Raila Odinga on Saturday criticised new examination rules announced by the Education ministry as Deputy President William Ruto asked schools and boards of management to abide by the regulations.

Speaking in Mombasa during the launch of a bursary scheme by the county government, Mr Odinga said Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is wrong on the rules as they will not address cheating in national examinations.

“We do not fix the problem of cheating by turning our children into suspects and criminals and keeping them out of contact with their parents and the world. It is time this country confronted its problems head-on instead of passing the buck,” said Mr Odinga.

He went on: “We must deal with the problem of cheating from where it starts which is at the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec). The organisation charged with the setting, safekeeping and administration of exams is Knec.”

However, Mr Ruto while speaking at Kirwara High School in Gatanga Constituency, Murang'a County, during prize-giving day celebrations defended the exam guidelines.

“The guidelines are meant to restore and safeguard the integrity of our education system and the future of our children,” said the Deputy President.

Mr Odinga said Knec should produce suspects who should go to jail when exams are leaked.

“With the record-breaking leakage witnessed last year, the top brass of KNEC ought to have been in court if not in jail today,” said Mr Odinga.

Already, 10 out of 11 senior officers at the council have been sacked due to last year’s examination irregularities that saw the results of more than 5,000 candidates cancelled.

Mr Odinga said teachers, candidates and parents being targeted today are victims of the corruption and institutional failure at the examination council.

“The culture of taking blame must be ingrained in our institutions and their leadership. The tradition of spreading and sharing blame and saying that somehow everyone and no one in particular is responsible is wrong and sometimes criminal. It must stop,” said Mr Odinga.

He insisted that teachers, parents and candidates are innocent.

“The corruption at Knut has been proved in court in the UK. People need to go to jail here. Then everyone will know that corruption and crime do not pay,” said Mr Odinga.

Last week, Dr Matiang’i reorganised the school calendar and announced far-reaching changes in the administration of national examinations to curb cheating.

He banned all social activities in the third term — including prayer days, visiting, half-term breaks, sports, prize-giving ceremonies and annual general meetings — to cut contact between candidates and outsiders and also shortened the period for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams from six weeks to four and put headteachers directly in charge of the tests in their respective schools.

Dr Matiang’i on several occasions has defended the regulations saying that they were arrived at after thorough consultations.

Religious leaders and parents have also opposed the regulations.

KNUT

At the same time, Mr Odinga said the government is hell-bent on breaking up Kenya National Union of teachers (Knut).

“As parents and leaders, we must say no to this plot. Teachers must not agree to be used to break up Knut because life will never be the same again for teachers,” said Mr Odinga.

He said Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) must join the battle to save Knut for when the schemers are done with Knut, they will surely go after them.