Form Four candidates start practical exams on Monday

Form Four practical examinations are set to kick off tomorrow.

The practical examinations will run until November 2 before paving the way for theory papers which start on November 6 and end on November 29.

Some 615,773 candidates registered to sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination which will be done in 9,350 centres across the country.

Subjects lined up for this week include German, Arabic, French (oral and braille), Kenya Sign Language (practical skills), music, building and construction.

HOME SCIENCE

The Home Science practical paper, initially set to be sat on Thursday, has been moved to next Monday to pave the way for the repeat presidential election.

This is because hundreds of examination centres double as polling and tallying centres.

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“This is in recognition of the fact that a number of schools are gazetted polling stations and tallying centres for the elections,” said Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i during a meeting with deputy county commissioners and sub-county directors of education in Nairobi early this month.

Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) said the practical examinations will be monitored by its officers because of their technical nature.

KCPE

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations start on October 31 after rehearsals on October 30. The examinations will end on November 2.

Some 1,003,556 candidates registered for the KCPE examination, which will be done at 28,566 examination centres.

This year, private candidates will sit both the theory and practical examinations at public schools identified by the sub-county directors of education to try and eliminate cheating.

Speaking during a briefing session for those who will be involved in management of the exercise, council chairman George Magoha asked the officers to observe high levels of integrity.

SECURITY

National Parents Association Chairman Nicholas Maiyo asked the government to ensure that the candidates are safe in schools.

“Students cannot sit examinations under an environment that is full of tension since they will feel insecure,” said Mr Maiyo.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman Kahi Indimuli said teachers are ready for the examinations.

“We have prepared them and I believe that they are ready for the task,” said Mr Indimuli, who also asked the government to ensure security for teachers and learners.

ELECTIONS

All primary schools will close for the Christmas holidays on Wednesday. Students in Form One, Two and Three will close on Tuesday.

However, several schools have already closed for fear of a possible outbreak of violence over the elections.

Dr Matiang’i, while addressing the officials, admitted that the examinations will take place at a time of heightened political activity.

“This means that the political atmosphere would still be a bit fluid requiring all officials to be vigilant to ensure the examinations are run professionally. More specifically, the number of teachers involved in the elections must quickly return to the examination administration centres where they will be officiating as fast as possible to avoid interrupting the smooth administration of the examinations,” said the CS.

SCHOOL FACILITIES

Headteachers will also have a duty to ensure that school facilities are not destroyed during the polls since most of the institutions are polling centres.

“Teachers should be non-partisan and are further required to shun any acts that could lead to cases of real or perceived conflict of interest in performance of their work,” said Teachers Service Commission chief executive Nancy Macharia.

Mrs Macharia also directed school heads to ensure safety of learners under their care and school property in the event the institutions are used as polling or tallying centres.