Schools benefit from key revision papers

Kisumu Central National Government Constituency Development Fund has partnered with the Standard Group Plc to supply 10,000 copies of The Standard to 41 primary and secondary schools in a bid to improve the quality of education.

Students received the newspapers, which contained revision examination papers, days before KCPE and KCSE kicked off to help in preparation for the exams.

This was in line with the Standard Group’s Newspaper in Education (NIE) programme.

Kisumu Day principal Daniel Mwaturo lauded the initiative, saying the revision examination papers will go a long way in helping students answer exam questions.

He also said that the revision papers will expose students to exam questions which is vital in their studies.

“We used to have mocks that were scrapped so the revision papers offer tests to students in wide areas and help them interact with exam questions,” he said.

He added that most schools lack proper examiners that can assist the students know what to expect in the exams.

“We have schools that have teachers direct from college and they have never set exams and don’t have a clue on the marking and exam probabilities so this will assist schools also prepare their students,” said Mwaturo.

Mr Mwaturo said that students’ exposure to newspapers was important and hoped that it would be embraced by all institutions.

Mary Anyango from Arina Primary School said 185 students sat for KCPE.

She regretted that despite the big number of students the quality of revision materials has always been a problem since most examiners do not adhere to the current syllabus.

“Most examiners don’t use the current syllabus and that is why we stopped buying revision books, we are happy the Newspaper in Education programme captures everything as it is, “she said.

Victoria Primary School headteacher Edward Omala echoed Anyango’s sentiments, saying pupils need revision materials ahead of exams.

He added that the revision papers in The Standard helped pupils have a feel of examination questions.

“This helps the students get to feel how the national exams will be like,” he said.

The Kisumu Central Constituency Development Fund management said the initiative will go a long way in boosting education standards in the region.

They said they will roll out more programmes to boost the quality of education.

“We have started with infrastructure and now we are moving to ensure that every student gets access to quality revision materials, that is why we partnered with the Standard Group to deliver newspapers in the education programme,” said a CDF official.