67 schools in Bungoma, Uasin Gishu fail to sit for KCPE exams

Confusion reigned on the first day of primary schools examination as 67 Schools in Uasin Gishu and Bungoma counties failed to collect their examination papers.

The Education Ministry says most of the affected schools are those that shut down after the Covid-19 pandemic which forced pupils to register in other schools.

In Uasin Gishu 52 schools failed to sit for the Examinations after the centre managers, failed to collect examination papers while in Bungoma County, 15 private schools failed to collect the examination materials.

The Ministry is also investigating a school in Nakuru County for irregularly transferring candidates to other schools to sit for examinations.

“The registration for KPSEA exams took place when we were in grade 3 because we started doing the formative assessment and there papers were prepared but during Covid most of these schools closed down they were all private … These schools closed down and learners went to other schools,” said Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan.

In Narok County, 248 expectant candidates sat for the examination with authorities assuring them of support during the examination period.

Elsewhere in Tana River County, nine candidates sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examination were forced to travel a distance of 135 kilometres to do their examinations after they discovered that they were registered at a different examination centre.

But despite the challenges, the examination was seamless in most parts of the country, with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu giving an assurance that they have put in place water-tight measures to safeguard the credibility of the national examinations.

“We have made all the necessary preparations and according to the arrangement we have this year, we don’t expect to get any single malpractice anywhere within the country,” said Machogu.

With no clarity over the placement of junior secondary school learners the Cabinet Secretary assured concerned parents that the presidential working party on education reforms will in the next two weeks give a report which will inform the decision.

11,000 pupils living with disabilities are writing the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA). The examination which started Monday will end on Wednesday.