As the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam kicked off across the country yesterday, the government is aware of the security concerns within the volatile Kerio Valley triangle and has put measures in place to ensure the exercise is not disrupted.
“We have various unfortunate incidences of insecurity in a few parts of the country and security organs of the country are seized of the matter. Adequate security has been put in place and indeed a child who does an examination in such environments is a bit tense but as a balance, the government has assured them 100 per cent transition,” said Chief Administrative Secretary for Education (CAS) Dr Sara Ruto.
Speaking when she supervised the opening of examination container in Eldoret, Dr Ruto also pleaded with politicians to desist from campaigning around schools as it is a critical institution in our society.
“Schools play a critical role in political space in that even voting takes place right here. Some politicians play politics with children in giving out branded exams resources. This destructs them and such, direct campaigning in schools is highly discouraged,” she said.
“Our students are part and parcel of our democratic space that’s why they are allowed to elect their prefects as part of the socialization and education on what they are expected to do in future. We do not run away from politics but we protect the sanctity of the school and the learner on what they are supposed to do at this particular time,” said Ruto.
She termed education as a collaborative issue that over the past five years has involved three ministries of ICT, Interior and Education in ensuring integrity and fairness is achieved.
She also termed cheating as a costly affair that would be unfair to all children saying the collaboration was a measure towards ensuring all is well.
“In this particular container we have distributed exam papers to 134 schools and some of them are sharing examination centres holding about 29,000 students. This is a process that is going on in the country and so far, everything has started off well in Uasin Gishu. The weather is conducive and security apparatus are on standby to ensure all is well during the exams period,” said Ruto.
“Each examination centre manager is accompanied by security officers and each side knows their responsibility. The students are very well prepared; the examination was also prepared taking that into consideration. All government agencies are here and all systems go,” added Ruto.
The County has 29,107 students with 14,499 boys and 14,608 girls, 502 supervisors and 678 centres. Kandie Primary School hosts the highest number of candidates 297.
By Hassan Adan Ali
