As the Education fraternity is preparing for the start of junior secondary school, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha has implored private schools to set up stand-alone junior secondary schools.
This, in his view, will reduce the burden of congestion in schools which will, in turn, boost the government’s efforts.
“Private schools should not always be for just profit. They can create a stand-alone junior secondary school which will help us to reduce the pressure and I hope that they will take this with the humility it deserves,” said CS Magoha.
CS Magoha also revealed that games could return to schools next term with the COVID-19 protocols having been relaxed.
“I will consult the health minister and most likely as we open for the New Year we shall relax that aspect because we feel we are safe enough to resume sports,” said CS Magoha.
Regarding the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), CS Magoha said culprits of examination malpractice will phase severe disciplinary action.
“Those who have tried to breach examination integrity, we are catching them and they will be subject to severe government action,” said Magoha.
Media Urged to Stop Negative Reporting on the ongoing KCSE
The Principal Secretary to the State Department for University Education and Research Amb Simon Nabukwesi has called on the media to stop reporting negative things about the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Amb Nabukwesi spoke positively regarding the KCSE examinations saying that the examination’s integrity is ‘perfect’ implying that it has not been affected by the various reports of arrested of school heads, teachers, school workers and even university students over malpractices.
He said that the examinations have been ongoing smoothly in most examination centres and called on the media not to overly report negative things about the KCSE.
“A drop of dirty water in the ocean does not mean the whole ocean is dirty. Water stays clean. The examination’s integrity has not been affected,” said Amb Nabukwesi.
“What the media projects are what the world will go with, so when there are reports that examinations have leaked, the world will automatically put our education certificates in a position where anybody could challenge the education system. This puts us in a position where we may be avoided more so those who wish to study in good universities,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary spoke after he oversaw the opening and distribution of KCSE papers at the Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner’s office today.
The PS also recognized the transparency shown by both parents and security officials.
Nyeri has so far recorded zero cases of examination malpractice.
The PS also urged both education and security officials in charge of the ongoing examinations to continue abiding by the provided invigilation guidelines saying that the candidates follow their lead.
However, he rebuked officers who have failed the integrity of the ongoing examination by involving themselves in examination malpractice.
The examination entered its ninth day today with candidates sitting for their CRE/Islamic/Hindu Religious papers as well as History and Government Paper 2 in the afternoon.
Nyeri has 20,316 candidates sitting for their KCSE in 223 examination centres. Of these, four of them are inmates at the maximum-security prison of King’ong’o. the KCSE examination shall come to an end on the 1st of April.