Anger over delayed KCPE exam results

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

Every year after Christmas, thousands of pupils wait with bated breath for the announcement of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results.

But today, some 820,255 Standard Eight pupils who sat for the examinations  mid this month have a sigh of relief, thanks to Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) postponing the examinations.

Anxiety, pain and frustrations for those who will not have good grades and fun, merry-making and happiness for those who excelled, will have to wait at least for another 28 days.

Although rescheduling the national examinations to recover lost time occasioned by the teachers’ strike early September was welcomed, the reality seems to dawn on stakeholders that the first term will be a nightmare for the Form One students.

Big challenge

Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman Wilson Sossion says it was a mistake to have pushed the dates and accused the Ministry of Education and Knec of not holding wide consultations with the union before making the changes.

Speaking to The Standard on the telephone yesterday, Mr Sossion said it is still possible to fast track the process and announce the results by January 15, if meaningful learning is to be achieved during the first term.

 “The mistake has already been done, but Knec can still process the results and release them immediately so that students joining Form One do not miss a lot,” he said.

Kenya National Association of Parents Secretary General Musau Ndunda said the postponement of the release of the results was a big challenge to the parents of the candidates.

Engage in crime

He said children staying out of the school for two months would lead to them engaging in crimes, drugs and other vices that could be hard to address.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima said elections would interfere with school programmes if the results were released late in January, saying the polls would also coincide with the admissions of the new students in secondary schools.

He asked why Knec was holding the results yet marking of the  papers had been completed and now wants them released by  January 1.

Knec Secretary Paul Wasanga had earlier warned that postponing examinations would mean Form One candidates might miss learning in the entire first term.