Secondary schools to absorb all KCPE candidates next year, PS

Principal Secretary Education, Ministry of Education Science and Technology Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang ( center) with Rift Valley regional coordinator Wanyama Musiambo (second right) at St Marys Girls primary school Nakuru overseeing the opening of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination papers on October 31,2017.Photo:Kipsang Joseph/standard

The Government has assured parents that all KCPE candidates who sat their exams this week will get slots in secondary schools.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said all 1,003,556 candidates would transit to secondary school and would be the first lot to benefit from free secondary education set to start in January 2018.

“We have put in place measures to ensure schools accommodate more students so that no child is left out,” Mr Kipsang told candidates at Kakamega Primary School.

He noted that some boarding schools might admit students under day programmes to accommodate more students.

He said the Government was committed to ensuring adequate facilities, enough teachers, and capacity for schools to increase enrolment.

“Schools will maintain their entry point but will have to increase the number of students enrolled. Schools such as Kakamega High School will have to admit around 5,000 students,” he said.

The PS affirmed that no incidents of cheating were reported during the three-day exam.

“Even the President has been involved in supervising the examination to assure candidates that his government takes this examination seriously,” Kipsang said.

He urged the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) to ensure the examination is properly marked and released on time to give parents adequate time to prepare their children to join secondary school.

Western region coordinator Mongo Chimwaga said no challenges were experienced in administering the examination.

“Our security personnel has ensured total security of the examination. We have adequate security even for the KCSE examination slated for next week,” said Chimwaga who accompanied the PS and other top security officials from the region.

Elsewhere, Ministry of Education officials have been told they will not be granted leave until the examination administration process is complete.

Senior education officials will be required to file daily reports of the examination process and none of them will be allowed to talk to the media.

The details are contained in a circular issued by Kipsang and dated October 30.

Kipsang said all officers from the ministry, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and other education organs involved must work as a team to ensure the process succeeds.

The Standard established that a WhatsApp account has been opened for top Ministry of Education officials participating in the administration of the examinations.

“Regional coordinators of education are expected to file daily reports on the WhatsApp platform on progress of the national examination within their jurisdictions,” reads the report.

The officials are expected to point out any challenges encountered.

“The county directors of education and TSC county directors will file joint reports daily,” reads the circular.

It continues: “You are further advised that press statements on the examinations can only be done by the chairman of Knec or the Cabinet secretary where necessary.”

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