The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education( KCPE) examinations kicked of countrywide today 22nd March 2021, with an estimated 1.2 million candidates sitting for the exams. There are more than 10,000 examination centres spread across the country.
The exams will run up to March 24th, 2021. The examination materials’ began early morning with senior Ministry of Education officials and other government agencies overseeing the exercise in different counties across the country.
There are 479 examination papers containers across the country that were opened at 6am ahead of the distribution exercise. The Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, who was in Thika, expressed his confidence that the exercise would proceed seamlessly.
“The students are very well prepared, the examination was also prepared taking that into consideration. All government agencies are here and as you can see, it is all systems go, all the 479 examination containers were opened today at 6am across the country,” CS Magoha said.
There was confusion however, after several teachers arrived late for the exercise, long after CS Magoha had arrived.
“There was a slight hiccup today but it does not involve the integrity of the examinations, some teachers did not arrive on time, we are going to ensure that this is solved and teachers arrive by 6am ” CS Magoha said.
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During the exercise, CS Magoha sounded a warning to schools that had collected money from students but failed to register them for the examinations saying they would face the full wrath of the law. He however said the students would still be allowed to sit for the examinations as the government had met the costs for the National examinations for both public and private schools.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya early supervised the launch of distribution of examination papers. At least 330,000 candidates in 14 counties across the Rift Valley.
Centre managers and security personnel led by County Police commander Tito Kilonzo converged at Nakuru West Deputy County Commissioner’s office in Kapkures where the container with examination papers was opened.
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Natembeya said “strangers” will not be allowed in schools. “A stranger is anybody who is not a center manager, supervisor, security officer or an education officer,” he explained.
According to the Regional Commissioner, adequate measures have been put in place to ensure even learners in flood-hit areas of Baringo will sit their examination.
Meanwhile, security personnel were warned against giving pupils rifles to take photos with during and after the examination as has been witnessed in the past.
Last week, the Ministry of Education announced that all preparations for the National examinations including COVID-19 protocols were in place. The ministry also cautioned against exam malpractices saying stern action will be taken against any school found to be engaging in the vice.
The pupils will be sitting for their papers after a 7-month break from school occasioned by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus which was reported in the country in early March 2020.
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