Schools in Mandera East flooded, but exams will go on

Umar Faruuq Integrated Academy pupils move desks out of their classrooms after they overflowed with water following the burst of River Daua on October 30, 2023. [Ibrahim Adan Ali, Standard]

Flooding in Mandera East has disrupted some schools, but the government has assured that exams will go on for all pupils.

Heavy rains have caused River Daua to overflow, flooding classrooms and other facilities in some schools along the river.

At Umar Faruuq Integrated Academy, all three classrooms have been flooded, forcing the school to move all 74 candidates to lower classes for the exams.

"All the washrooms and other useful facilities in the school compound are submerged in water. The level of water is on increase and we fear it will overflow the exam rooms and displace us," said Sheikh Abdirahman, the head of the institution.

However, Mandera County Commissioner Amos Mariba said the government will ensure that every pupil sits for the exams, regardless of the flooding.

"We are aware of some schools flooded with rain water but that will not stop us from conducting the exams. I assure you every pupil will sit for the examinations," Mariba said.

Mariba also assured the safety of the exams, saying that thousands of security personnel have been deployed to escort the papers to various schools countywide.

"Thousands of security officers both in uniform and civilian will be guarding the exams as a high number will be posted to schools along the borderlines," Mariba said.

Mandera County Director of Education Abdi Sheikh said two choppers will be used to ferry exam papers to 22 far-flung and hard-to-reach schools.

Some 9,301 pupils in Mandera county will sit for KCPE examinations, while another 8586 pupils will be sitting for KPSEA.