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It’s all systems go as a million pupils sit KCPE exams

Monday, October 28th, 2019 00:00 | By
Pupils of Temple Road Primary School in Nyeri clean desks ahead KCPE exam. Photo/PD/JOSEPH KING’ORI

It’s all systems go as more than a million Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam candidates rehearse for the tests this morning.

The Class Eight pupils begin writing their three-day exams tomorrow. 

They are scheduled to sit Mathematics, English Language and Composition papers tomorrow.

They will, on Wednesday take Science, Kiswahili Lugha and Insha and wind up with Social Studies and Religious Education papers on Thursday. 

All papers have catered for children living with special needs, with the incorporation of large prints and braille.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will use 479 containers to store exam materials as opposed to 459 last year.

Four police officers working in shifts of twos, are to be assigned every container in 28,000 distribution centres across the country. In total, 1.8 million students will sit the exam this year, with 1,088,986 doing KCPE and another 699,745 KCSE.

The exam starts amid concerns over flooding and enhanced rainfall in some parts of the country, which has complicated logistics.

However, Education Principal secretary Belio Kipsang has assured that all candidates will receive their exam papers as scheduled.

Last week, he said centres cut out by rains will be consolidated should the need arise, even as he directed field officers to liaise with county commissioners to ensure no papers fail to be delivered.

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha wrote to his Environment counterpart, Keriako Tobiko, earlier in the month seeking an advisory on weather patterns during the exam period.

This year, 28,0000 Teachers Service Commission-licenced school heads will play the role of centre managers and other 145,429 teachers executing the role of supervisors and invigilators.

A further 33,720 will be involved in marking the KCPE and KCSE scripts, bringing to 179,149 the number of teachers involved in the administration of examinations this year.

“In order to properly and comprehensively plan for this exercise, kindly provide us with a weather advisory covering the period October 20 and November 29. This will enable us to anticipate weather changes and equip our team with adequate information to effectively deliver the examination,” he said in the letter.

The Environment ministry has since urged Magoha to identify focal points person at the Education ministry to receive weather updates and advisories to facilitate planning.

Environment Principal Secretary Betty Maina further provided a list of contact details for County Directors of Meteorological department services, who can give assistance.

“The outlook for October indicates that most parts of the country are likely to experience enhanced rainfall, that is above their seasonal long-term means except for Northwestern Kenya and Western parts,” documents from Environment Ministry indicate.

Similarly, the November outlook indicates that several parts of the country are likely to receive substantial rainfall.

Significant amount of rainfall is expected during October 20 and November 29 period through to December in Lake Victoria basin, highlands West, Central and South Rift Valley, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia.

“This forecast should be used in conjunction with the daily 24-hour forecast issued and weekly forecast available from County Directors of Meteorological department services across the country,” said PS Maina.

Meanwhile, Prof Magoha has assured that tough penalties have been put in place, to include instant interdiction and sacking of any Government official under whose jurisdiction any vice will take place.

‘There are still a few crooks out there, but no exam will be seen until the morning of the examination. We know the tricks they have employed and our surveillance team will go up to two kilometres from the exam centre,” warned Magoha.

This year, 28,0000 Teachers Service Commission-licensed school heads will play the role of Centre Managers and other 145,429 teachers executing the role of supervisors and invigilators.

A further 33,720 will be involved in marking of both the KCPE and KCSE, bringing the total to 179,149 the number of teachers who will be involved in the administration of examinations this year. KCSE examination rehearsals will be conducted this Friday.r

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