We will uphold credibility of national exams, says Education CS

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has pledged to ensure the credibility of national exams is maintained.

Speaking at Kakamega High School on Thursday during the launch of the county dialogue on education, Ms Mohammed said her ministry would ensure that the administration of national exams was credible.

The Ministry of Education plans to make the dialogues on education an annual event as a way of gathering data for policy formulation to improve education standards in the 47 counties.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta asked me tell parents and teachers in this region to ensure all children, who have attained school going age, do not miss school,” said the CS.

She asked chiefs and their assistants to take action against parents and teachers flouting the directive.

CHILD LABOUR

“The President expects all children to be in school. It’s unacceptable for anybody to keep his children at home and they end up engaging in child labour at attender age,” said Ms Mohammed.

The minister said the government had allocated Sh 29 billion for the Free Day Secondary education as a commitment to improve education standards in the country.

She warned that teacher absenteeism would not be tolerated since it impacted negatively on the provision of quality education.

During the forum, drug and substance abuse, child labour and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) were identified as key challenges

CRACKDOWN

The western region coordinator Ms Anne Ngetich said child labour was rampant at fishing sites along the lake in Busia and sugarcane growing zones.

“We have intensified a crackdown on those engaging in child labour to ensure they are prosecuted,” said the administrator.

She said the government had allocated Sh 700 million for infrastructural improvement in school in western region.

“The projects are beginning to have a positive impact on performance in national exams. Three of our counties, Kakamega, Bungoma and Vihiga posted improved results in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams, but there are challenges in Busia, which should be addressed,” said Ms Ngetich.