Schools burdening parents and pupils with ‘commercial exams’

As KCPE and KCSE examinations draw near, my attention has been drawn to what I believe is harmful to students.

A lot has been said about today‘s learners who have been reduced to examination robots instead of thinkers who can interpret situations outside the academic enclave where marks and points have replaced understanding. Some schools have been administering commercially sourced examinations on weekly basis instead of engaging the pupils in revision as the count-down to the national examinations begins.

These examinations that are bought from commercial printers are a burden to parents. The tests are also denying the learners time to revise. The worst part of it is that the learners are being sent home almost every Monday to collect the examination money together with the fees for weekend tuition, again wasting time.

Ministry of Education and Kenya National Examination Council should limit commercial exams and guide parents and learners on adapting tests sanctioned by the two bodies. A policy should be put in place to ensure students understand the syllabus and can interpret situations instead of teachers narrowing their focus to exams.

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Education is more than examinations and its core values should not be lost in a guise to earn an extra shilling by commercializing the tests ahead of the national examinations.