TSC order to cause more harm than good

The directive by TSC to all 275,000 teachers to remain in school during KCPE and KCSE exams period poses a conflict.

According to TSC, the move is designed to see curriculum implementation to its fullest.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia argues county directors and heads of schools must ensure that teachers are on duty during the period.

However, the move is likely to contradict the Education ministry and the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) in the fight against exam malpractices and overburden school heads.

The Knec, which has convened the official launch of the 2016 national examination administration exercise, should be left to decide on the matter.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion has strongly faulted the TSC move, arguing that Knec has all the capacities to man the exams and teachers’ presence holds no water. Others argue that TSC is overstepping its mandate, citing the school calendar as determined by the Ministry of Education.

Ordering teachers to stay in schools idle is likely to cause more harm than good.

There is nothing wrong with tutors being in school simply because they are always on duty. But the latest argument seems to water down the ministry’s renewed war against exam cheating.

Plans by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to amend the school calendar were meant to rein in teachers who have been helping students to cheat in examinations. To me, only teachers selected to man exams should remain in school.

Knec’s new guidelines, which spell out strict penalties for both candidates and examination administrators found engaging in any form of examination malpractice, should be supported.

The document says any person who willfully and maliciously damages examination material will be in violation of Section 30 of the Knec Act, which attracts imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding Sh5 million, or both, to avert a repeat of shameful results for last year massive irregularities that saw the results of about 2,709 primary and 5,100 secondary school candidates cancelled.

TSC should consult widely and work together with the ministry for transparent, accountable and high quality exams in Kenya.