Tough guidelines as KCSE exam starts

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination kicked off Monday with 903,260 candidates expected to sit the tests across the country. 

Practical and oral exams for some electives have been going on after the candidates were taken through rehearsals on October 19.

Just like the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination which ended on Wednesday, the Form Four examination will be conducted under tough guidelines. 

Only secondary school teachers will be allowed to invigilate, supervise and examine the tests, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia has said. 

She said only secondary school teachers are expected to invigilate KCSE examinations in line with the Kenya National Examination Council regulations.

Ms Macharia, who oversaw the opening of the container in Mombasa, encouraged teachers to conduct credible examinations.

"Primary school teachers cannot invigilate KCSE examinations. They only invigilate the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) but for KCSE, we need secondary school teachers to be invigilators, centre managers, supervisors and examiners. We have 101,376 teachers," she added.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the ministry has deployed a helicopters is some regions to transport the papers.  

"Yesterday, helicopters were deployed to uncharted areas, emphasising the need for our colleagues to exercise caution in view of the significant increase in security as a result of this deployment," he said. 

The PS urged teachers to recognise their vital role as co-creators of student outcomes. He emphasised that the results our children achieve are a direct reflection of our effectiveness as educators.

"We need to reflect on our practices and consider that perhaps we need to address certain issues. If we ask you to be in the container twice, that's a significant signal and we should take note of it," he said. 

"Children should be allowed to be children, and part of the problem might be that we've been defining too much for them. Last week, we had a successful run, and I look forward to more success. Despite the rainy weather, let's work together," he added.

The PS revealed that this year has seen an increased collaborative effort to ensure the safety and prosperity of the community's children. Several agencies have come together to tackle the problems caused by individuals who have troubled the young residents, resulting in the arrest of several offenders. This collective effort sends a powerful message of commitment to the welfare of the community's youngest members.  

"This year we are better connected with several agencies. We've arrested several people who have been causing trouble with our children and we're committed to ensuring that our children have a safe and carefree environment. I want our children to be confident in their abilities and strive for better results while maintaining their integrity," he said.

Meanwhile, some 52,958 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates in the Coast started their exams as rains continue to pound different parts of the region.

"We are hoping that the weather will not affect the KCSE examinations. But everything has been put in place to ensure that there are no hiccups. We have screened the teachers and they are ready to deliver," said the TSC boss.

However, Coast Regional Education Director Lucas Kangongo said despite the heavy rains that have been pelting the country since Friday, the Ministry of Education was ready.  

Two helicopters have been deployed in the Coast region to assist in the dispatch of examination materials after some examination centres became inaccessible. 

"We took action before the situation became more difficult. In Tana River, there was a lot of rain and some examination centres were inaccessible so we had to seek assistance from the Kenya National Examination Council who deployed two helicopters to Tana River," said the Education boss. 

Mr Kangongo said Tana Delta was also affected, forcing the Ministry of Education to relocate two examination centres to a safer area.

He said 53 operational containers have been opened and the national examinations have been successfully dispatched to 253 examination centres.

In Taita Taveta, the County Director of Education, Mr Khalif Hirey, said the devolved unit has adequate security and logistics to ensure a smooth and credible examination process.

"So far so good. Chemistry is the first paper and no major challenges have been reported. We will be able to overcome the challenges as they arise. We are confident that our candidates are well prepared," he said. 

In Nakuru, a pregnant candidate sat the exam in hospital after experiencing labour pains.

"The student, who is yet to deliver her baby, sat the Chemistry Paper One this morning without any problem. The girl will be provided with security as she writes her exams even after delivery," said County Education Director Victoria Mulili.

Speaking after supervising the distribution of exam papers in Molo Sub County, the official said they were coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the exercise runs smoothly.

Ms Mulili said two police officers had been deployed at each examination centre.

In Nyandarua, officials braved rain and chilly weather as they waited at various collection centres for the papers to be distributed.

The county director of education, Philip Wambua, said most of the centres had the examination materials by 8am.

"The exercise is hitch-free and we are not expecting any major challenges, despite the persistent rains, most of the roads have been upgraded by the county and national government, so we are expecting a smooth exercise throughout the county. We had an arrangement where the distribution started with schools in remote areas," said Mr Wambua.

The examination ends on November 24. 

Reporting by Mercy Simiyu, Winnie Atieno, Lucy Mkanyika, John Njoroge, Waikwa Maina