A multi-agency team on the forthcoming national examinations in Marsabit County has resolved that candidates should sit for the examination they registered for without exception.
At the same time, both the Kenya certificate of primary education (KCPE) and Kenya certificate of secondary education (KCSE) examinations would be conducted under the Covid-19 prevention protocols.
The county director of education (CDE) Apuko Apollo had expressed concern during a briefing session on the exams held at ACK Hall Tuesday over reports that some candidates in some parts of the county might miss on the exams because they were undergoing rites of passage.
Mr Apollo urged members of the team to ensure that candidates from certain communities who have been removed from school to partake in circumcision ceremonies as initiates were available at their respective examination centres.
Marsabit County has 5,469 KCPE candidates comprising 2,830 males and 2,659 females registered for the 2020 examinations. The region also has 1,781 candidates sitting for the KCSE who include 747 girls and 1,016 boys.
The meeting chaired by acting County Commissioner William Kakimon was in agreement that initiates would be allowed to do the exams but warned of proxies.
“We want every candidate to sit for the examinations they were registered to do,” Kakimon said and warned that no substitutes would be entertained.
The county commissioner also cautioned head teachers and principals who are examination centre managers that they would be held responsible if they failed to exercise due diligence as negligence would be severely punished.
As concerns the challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting was informed that the ministry of health containment measures would be followed to ensure that the exercise was carried out in an enabling environment.
An isolation room in every centre has been set aside for any candidate who might exhibit coronavirus symptoms.
Owing to the remoteness of certain areas of the county like Illeret, Dukana and North Horr, arrangements were being made for the use of helicopters to airlift the examination materials.
by Sebastian Miriti
