Candidates have prepared well for exams; don't let them down

Class Eight candidates from Victoria Primary School in Kisumu get frisked before getting into the exam room. [File, Standard]

The Ministry of Education made changes to the duration of the national exams when it announced the 2023 examination dates. According to the Education PS, the exams will begin on October 30 and end on November 24, 2023. The Ministry of Education adjusted the 2023 school calendar to fit into the general sector calendar of events.

In the CS's circular, which was copied to the Teachers Service Commission Secretary/CEO and Kenya National Examinations Council CEO, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will begin on November 30 and end on November 2. This means the exam will take four days just like during the initial calendar. Students writing KCSE will also sit the exams from November 3 to November 24.

2023 has given the highest number of candidates with 1.43 million, 900,000 and 1.21 million sitting for KCPE exams, KCSE exams and KPSEA respectively. It must be remembered that in the previous year, Knec underwent some turbulence between 2019 and 2021 which needed radical adjustments to have learners tested at the end of their learning course.

In 2022, a record five national examinations were administered: KCSE - in March and November/December 2022, KCPE - in March and October 2022 and the initial KPSEA in 2022. This was a difficult task, and we must appreciate the efforts, commitment and determination of the council that ensured the work was done and results delivered. Our neighbouring countries were unable to do the same and we can therefore say that Kenya is leading from the front!

The five national examinations in one year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the world economy had quite a huge impact on the government budget. The work, ordinarily handled by Knec in a single year, went up five-fold and a few gaps were evident such as delays in payments to officers who invigilated and supervised the examinations and delays in payments for markers. We, however, thank the council since some of the liabilities that were pending have been settled. We learn from this situation that as a country, we must be always ready for any emergency that can befall a sensitive sector such as education.

Teachers have prepared learners well for the national examinations. Syllabus coverage so far is commendable and therefore we look forward to seeing the learners performing well. We pray that the learners are able to remember what they have learned and respond to questions appropriately. Examinations have become the sieve that determines the future of our children in terms of careers. This year's examinations also mark the end of KCPE examinations.

Insecurity is a major concern following the recent attacks on a school in Baringo County where bandits engaged the police for over five hours. The Head of State has directed the Internal Security CS to camp in the affected areas and ensure order is restored. Citing direct budgetary allocations to all police stations, the Head of State says he sees no reason why security lapses are still manifesting. We call upon all security agencies led by the CS schools of safety during this examination period.

Looking at the holidays ahead, we note that learners, especially those who will have sat national examinations, will be at home for two months. Parents, guardians and society at large must devise ways that will keep these learners busy, focused and useful both to themselves and the community. We propose that mentorship programmes, talent exhibitions, talk shows, game and sports, and spiritual nourishment arrangements be made for them.

We have traditionally seen parents, guardians and well-wishers rush in January after the results are released. We have witnessed parents run from one office to the other looking for support to enable their learners to go to specific secondary schools. We have participated in hurried fundraisers for the purchase of school materials for learners. These only teach us that we are never prepared for our own children when it comes to education transition.

Sitting a national examination is never an event; it is a process. We call upon parents, guardians and all well-wishers who have candidates sitting national examinations to prepare well to take their children to the next level in 2024. If there is a need for mobilisation of funds the right time to do that is now. The government programmes that ensure all learners transit to the next level of learning should be encouraged and those wilfully denying their children an opportunity to learn when they can afford it should also face the full force of the law.

We thank our teachers who have sacrificed their valuable time beyond the ordinary to prepare these learners well for this very important exercise, our good parents who have provided for their children and even availed them to school for learning and the community for being supportive.

I take this opportunity to wish the 2023 KCSE, KCPE, KPSEA and KILEA exam candidates the best of luck.

Oyuu is the KNUT Secretary-General.