By David Odongo
Faced with the challenge of getting revision papers, a former teacher has come up with an easy method to help learners and their instructors.
Mr Sammy Mbugua (pictured) has established an online forum, where teachers and students can contribute and get revision past papers.
Mbugua established the site, www.jisomee.com two years ago and to date, he has placed tens of past papers on the site, which students access easily.
“I was a teacher at Moi Girls High School, and getting enough past papers for revision was a daunting task. I asked myself, if I’m in Nairobi and I am getting such a challenge, how about a teacher in rural areas?” recalls Mbugua.
READ MORE
University of Nairobi sets new standard as Kenya formalises protocol education
How Narok's top KJSEA pupil earned her father's unique reward
KJSEA does not provide aggregate scores, exams body clarifies
He mooted the idea to set up the website. “Parents, teachers and students can access the papers. To date, the website has over 50,000 questions for primary and secondary schools,” says Mbugua.
The site caters for pupils from Class Six to Form Four in all examinable subjects.
Rural area
“We have also introduced past papers for tertiary level of education. So far, we only have papers for Certified Public Accountant course up to level five, but we hope to add more courses,” says Mbugua.
Having been a teacher for a decade, Mbugua says it is time all education institutions heavily invest in information technology.
“Lack of knowledge shouldn’t be a reason for a student in rural area to be beaten by a student in Nairobi in exams. If they all sit the same tests, and all of them have the same test papers to go through during revision, then both have the same chances during exams,” says Mbugua. The former teacher believes that education is a life long process, therefore, students should access past papers anywhere.
“Education should be devised in a way that it meets the needs of various learners. That’s where information technology comes in. If we can increase access to past exam papers through internet, the cost of education will go down,” he says, adding that the cost of acquiring and photocopying test papers can be avoided by parents if they turn to technology.
The website, according to Mbugua, can be accessed on mobile phones, which makes it easier for students. Education consultant Clyde Mutsotso says the best way for students to revise for exams is to use test papers. The test papers, he notes, are good for passing exams.
With Ease
“The most common use for past papers is simply to practice answering the questions for students to familiarise with the style and phrases in which questions are asked and how to answer them,” says Mutsotso.
“Past papers are a vital part of education. The world over, most institutions use past exam papers to help students apply what they have learnt and do exams without pressure,” he notes, adding past papers should be accessed with ease.
