Heavy Rains Derail Exam Delivery
The national examinations for primary and junior secondary schools in Kenya commenced on Monday. However, in some regions, heavy rains caused delays in distributing the exam papers.
Candidates taking the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams in these affected areas anxiously awaited the arrival of exam materials, which had to be airlifted due to impassable roads.
For those who managed to start on schedule, the KCPE candidates marked the end of the 8-4-4 educational system by answering the English and Mathematics papers. Last year, a new education system called the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) was introduced, and the second group of students under this system sat for their initial two papers.
In Marsabit County, 11 schools faced exam delays due to transportation issues caused by heavy rains, especially in Laisamis constituency. The affected schools include Ndikir, Lontolio, St Dominic Savio Lengima, Arge, Lependera, Mpagas, Ngurinet, Oltorot, Farakoren, Ikija, and Shur Primary in North Horr constituency. To overcome these challenges, the government planned to use a helicopter for exam deliveries.
In Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties, the delivery of exams to exam centers was hindered by muddy and slippery roads due to rainfall. Officials had to find alternative means to transport exam papers.
Heavy Rains Derail Exam Delivery
In Budalangi Constituency, two schools had to collect their exam materials from neighboring Siaya County due to logistical issues. Osieko and Madwua Primary Schools in Bunyala South collected their exam papers at Usigu Centre in Siaya.
To ensure that exam papers reached schools despite heavy rains, Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto mentioned that the government had implemented elaborate measures, including using boats in some cases.
Also Read:Â List of Counties to be Affected By Heavy Rains During National Exams
In Turkana County, a minor who gave birth a few days before the national exams began was sitting for her KCPE exam at the local referral hospital. The 17-year-old candidate developed complications during delivery and was being cared for by medical professionals.
In Nyamira, two candidates who were initially omitted from the list of registered pupils for this year’s KCPE exams were able to participate after emergency interventions.
In Trans Nzoia County, some candidates who had dropped out of school due to economic hardships returned to sit for the exams, primarily due to the tough economic conditions that forced them to work instead of continuing their education.
At Naivasha and Kericho Maximum Prisons, 37 inmates wrote their exam papers as they worked towards building careers while serving sentences or awaiting court decisions. Inmate Gideon Langat praised the teachers who are also inmates and called for more support for prison education departments to aid rehabilitation efforts.
