The government has disbursed Sh7.5 billion to secondary schools to help in the administration of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations set to kick off on Friday.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha announced that the funds, which translate to 50 percent of the total capitation balances, hit the school accounts on Tuesday.
He was speaking at Manyatta Primary School in Kisumu County where he oversaw the handing over of the just-concluded KCPE examinations.
The CS assured the centre managers that the second tranche of funds would be released by the end of April. The money will be used to purchase chemicals for practical subjects and apparatus for science subjects.
Magoha insisted that for proper administration of the national exams, at least two police officers should be posted to each centre to help in securing the examination environment.
“Some schools have a large number of candidates like Maranda has close to 600 and many others with over 300 candidates. Such schools should have three to four police officers, one police officer stationed in the exam room throughout the exam session and the other two should patrol the compound,” noted Magoha.
He also sent a strong warning to teachers and other people who are plotting to impersonate candidates in the forthcoming exams. The CS added that those found culpable would be arrested and taken to court.
Some 699,745 candidates are expected to sit KCSE test papers and have been urged to remain focused and be relaxed as they write the exams.
CS Magoha who was flanked by other education officials congratulated the over 1.9 million KCPE candidates for finishing their exams peacefully. He hailed school heads for ensuring that all the Covid-19 guidelines were observed during that period.
“There was no incident of Covid-19 case reported at any school as the pupils were doing the KCPE exams and we thank all the stakeholders for the smooth process, ” said the CS.
This year’s KCPE which was postponed last year following the outbreak of Covid -19 attracted a 99.99 percent turnout among the pupils.
According to Magoha, even the candidates who were not registered due to some rogue teachers were allowed to do the exams.
The CS did not bow to pressure from KUPPET to have marking centres decentralised. He said that having numerous marking centres across the country promotes cheating of exams.
He advised the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to avoid expanding the marking centres.
By Robert Ojwang’
