Anxiety as exams date moved to allow October 26 poll

Education Cabinent secretary Fred Matiangi chats with KNUT secretary general who is also ODM nominated member of Parliament Wilson Sossion after addressing the press after meeting Education Heads at Early Childhood Development Curriculum Headquarters, Nairobi on18/09/2017(Jenipher Wachie)

The decision to move the date of the repeat presidential election to October 26 is already affecting preparations for national examinations. Some 1.6 million candidates will sit exams this year.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the home science examination paper will now be done October 30.

Dr Matiang’i further said all primary schools will close by October 25. All schools were scheduled to close on October 29.

Form one, two and three students will close school on October 24, even as KCSE exams dates remain as scheduled earlier.

Education stakeholders had raised concern that exam preparations would be marred by electoral chaos and disorganisation that may affect candidates’ frame of mind.

Examination timetable shows that Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam will start on October 31 to November 2. KCPE candidates will now attend rehearsals on October 30, Matiang’i said.

A timetable from the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) shows 1.03 million KCPE candidates will sit mathematics, English language and composition on first day of the examination. Science, Kiswahili lugha and Insha will be done on the second day, with the three-day examination ending on November 2 with science and religious studies papers.

And just a day after the end of KCPE, the 615,773 candidates registered for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam will attend rehearsals.

Written KCSE exams will kick off on November 6 with mathematics and chemistry papers.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) National Chair Kahi Indimuli, teachers unions and other stakeholders have urged political players to be sensitive to exams.

“We pray that politicians will allow our children space to write examinations in a good and peaceful environment,” said Janet Ouko, Elimu Yetu Coalition national coordinator.

National Parents Association’s Nicholas Miyo asked all Kenyans to keep children safe.

“It is our responsibility as good citizens to keep them safe and support them to write the examinations,” said Maiyo.

Meanwhile, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia has directed schools to ensure safety and discipline of learners is enhanced during the exam period.