Release funds so that schools can prepare for examinations

Standard Eight pupils at Joseph Kangethe primary school in Nairobi. [David Gichuru,Standard]

Public and private schools reopened in January this year after 10 months of closure due to the Covid-19 scare. But even after the government stressed that it was ready for the reopening despite fears from some quarters that Covid-19 was still a serious threat, it is now clear that not all logistics had been considered to ensure smooth sailing once learners returned to class.

That is perhaps why the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations scheduled for next month seem to hang in the balance. According to school principals, the government is yet to release capitation funds. This delay, they say, is affecting timely purchase of examination materials, especially for practical subjects like physics and chemistry, which could affect thousands of Form Four candidates.