Distribution of KCPE and KCSE examination papers across the country has begun this today.
According to the Education Ministry, learners in other classes will be closing schools by the 19th of March to allow the candidates to sit for the examinations.
Teacher service Commission CEO Nancy Machari says 22, 679 teachers have been vetted and approved to administer the examinations as supervisors and invigilators.
TSC has however not made it clear whether all the teachers who will take part in the national examinations have been vaccinated, as mass vaccination for teachers also begins this week.
According to Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman Kahi Indimuli, they are yet to receive money from the Government. He adds that some of the Principals he has been in communication with said they will start closing schools as early as today.
He said, “Most of the school heads that have spoken with me said they are not able to keep the children in schools any longer. The government promised to release the final tranche of 25 per cent by the end of February and we are still waiting.”
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha had promised that the money would be in the school accounts by last week but schools have not seen any of the funds saying that the delay could affect preparation for the exams.
Magoha said, “We shall release the money next week to schools and therefore no one should try to cause panic or anxiety.”
Indimuli on the other hand said, “Our preparations towards these examinations will be inadequate if the government fails to release the money in time.”
KCPE is set to begin on 22nd of March while KCSE will begin on 25th of March. 1,088,986 candidates will sit the KCPE while another 699,745 will sit the KCSE exams.
GRADE FOUR ASSESSMENT
Meanwhile, the grade 4 assessment tests which began on the 8th of March will be concluded this week, even as teachers face continued challenges while administering the assessments.
The teachers say, downloading and administering the assessment tools, scores and uploading the results of the learners on the Kenya National Examinations Council’s CBC assessment portal is challenging.
According to the council, the formative tests will account for 20 percent of the final grade 6 assessment.