Withdraw order on half-term breaks, Namwamba tells CS

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has called on Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to withdraw his recent directives to schools.

He challenged the minister to do his homework and consult education stakeholders before issuing orders.

Mr Namwamba said banning of prayer days and half-term breaks would not prevent cheating in examinations.

“It’s difficult to tell whether a student got a genuine A or a fake one. We must treat the matter of exam cheating seriously,” he said.

He went on: “How are you going to deal with day scholars and students in private schools?”

The lawmaker spoke during the 8th graduation ceremony at Busia Teachers Training College.

Mr Namwamba said he was preparing a Bill to have stiffer penalties for individuals who engage in exam malpractices.

He said cheating is lowering education standards in the country.

At the same time, students of Nambale Boys High School are using a laboratory and library as classrooms due to a high population at the institution.

This is after 242 students whose results were cancelled last year by the Kenya National Examinations Council joined the institution.

According to the head teacher, Mr Solomon Sisuma, the school has 539 candidates who will sit this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, a situation he described as overwhelming.

“The library and an old laboratory have been converted into classrooms to accommodate the high population,” he said.

Mr Sisuma said the school had to employ more teachers to cater for the high population.