KCPE examinations off to a good start

A security officer keeps vigil as Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidates from St. Augustine Primary School, which is a public school, tackle their Mathematics exam paper to make sure there are no incidents of cheating as this year's KCPE got underway in various primary schools country-wide, November 10, 2015. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination started smoothly in most examination centres countrywide.

A spot check by The Standard in Nairobi at several schools found pupils had settled well and were ready for their first paper yesterday despite fears that the previous day’s downpour in most parts of the city would have interfered with the exams.

At Kilimani Primary School, both the students who registered as regular candidates and those in the special unit said they were happy with how the preparations had been conducted.

At Moi Avenue Primary School in the city centre, head teacher Eunice Mulati expressed confidence that pupils would excel despite the strike that paralysed learning in public schools when the term started.

Mature candidate

Elsewhere, a mother of four and her 15-year-old daughter were among candidates sitting the KCPE exam in Narok County.

Hellen Napais, 31, a cleaner with Narok County government, said she decided to go back to class after realising that life was ‘useless’ without education.

Mrs Napais had registered as a private candidate at St Peter’s Primary school and was among 94 candidates sitting the examinations at the school.

And three candidates successfully wrote their first KCPE papers at Njoro Sub-County Hospital in Nakuru County.

County Education Director Esther Muriu said the candidates with various ailments had been admitted at the facility earlier.

At least 59 candidates sat for the examination at the Nakuru and Naivasha GK prisons.

Nakuru GK Prison boss James Sawe said the number increased from 12 students who sat for the examination last year to 16 candidates this year.

Forty three inmates from Naivasha GK Prison were among close to 7,000 candidates who started their KCPE exams in Naivasha.

Exams kicked off smoothly at Kakamega GK Prison as 24 candidates sat their KCPE exams yesterday morning.

Prison boss Daniel Emaase expressed optimism that his candidates will surpass last year’s mean score of 225.

In Busia prison, only one candidate showed interest in siting the KCPE exam, while Kodiaga Prison in Kisumu County had 18 candidates.

Meanwhile, 21 pupils in Sirisia constituency have been locked out of the ongoing KCPE examination after their school failed to register them.

The pupils of Hope Academy in Sirisia got the shocking news when they turned up for rehearsals on Monday.

They blamed school director Robinson Nyongesa for their woes.

The pupils said their efforts, through their parents, to find out their registration status bore no fruit as the director had dismissed them.

County Director of Education Charles Anyika confirmed that the school had not been registered for the examinations.

—Reports by Robert Kiplagat, Mercy Kahenda, Anthony Gitonga, Robert Amalemba, Maureen Odiwuor, Titus Oteba