The Education Ministry has warned schools over imposing remedial classes, noting the programmes are illegal.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang expressed concern that some school heads continue to impose illegal levies on parents to pay teachers who conduct remedial teaching.

“We cannot explain why we need extra hours in the name of remedial teaching,” Kipsang said.

He said the hours the ministry has prescribed for teaching was sufficient for imparting skills, competencies and knowledge learners will apply in tackling examinations.

He pointed out that remedial teaching and the levies associated with it was a burden to parents.

“Extra levies had made us acquire a bad name under the name of remedial teaching,” he said.

Kipsang spoke during a meeting with field education officials and national government administration officers counterparts in the Coast Region at Shimo La Tewa Secondary school in Mombasa on September 19.

Kipsang asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take disciplinary action against teachers going against the Ministry policy.

Kipsang’s warning comes at a time when primary and secondary schools are preparing for the national exams.

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams are set to begin on October 30.

The Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) exams on the other hand will begin on November 3 and conclude on November 24.

Kipsang said the ministry will put measures in place to ensure that examinations in the country remain credible.

He further called on educators to reclaim the trust of the society by managing this year’s national examinations in an honest manner.

“As officers deployed to oversee the administration of national examinations, we must therefore ensure that we guard the conduct of the examinations against all sorts of malpractices so as to enhance credibility, validity and reliability of the examinations,” he said.

Last week Knec issued a statement blocking contracted professionals, examiners and assessors from engaging in activities that might compromise their office.

“While preparing candidates for examinations, peer learning and enhancing pedagogical skills are good practices, the Council wishes to observe that the Oath of Secrecy which every contracted professionals, examiners and assessors signs prohibits among other things, engaging in activities deemed to pose conflict of interest and divulging ones identity as a KNEC examiner/assessor,” said Knec.

The Council ordered all contracted professionals, examiners and assessors to desist from facilitating in such workshops in schools. This is aimed to curb cheating.

The Education Ministry has warned schools over imposing remedial classes, noting the programmes are illegal.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang expressed concern that some school heads continue to impose illegal levies on parents to pay teachers who conduct remedial teaching.

“We cannot explain why we need extra hours in the name of remedial teaching,” Kipsang said.

He said the hours the ministry has prescribed for teaching was sufficient for imparting skills, competencies and knowledge learners will apply in tackling examinations.

He pointed out that remedial teaching and the levies associated with it was a burden to parents.

“Extra levies had made us acquire a bad name under the name of remedial teaching,” he said.

Kipsang spoke during a meeting with field education officials and national government administration officers counterparts in the Coast Region at Shimo La Tewa Secondary school in Mombasa on September 19.

Kipsang asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take disciplinary action against teachers going against the Ministry policy.

Kipsang’s warning comes at a time when primary and secondary schools are preparing for the national exams.

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams are set to begin on October 30.

The Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) exams on the other hand will begin on November 3 and conclude on November 24.

Kipsang said the ministry will put measures in place to ensure that examinations in the country remain credible.

He further called on educators to reclaim the trust of the society by managing this year’s national examinations in an honest manner.

“As officers deployed to oversee the administration of national examinations, we must therefore ensure that we guard the conduct of the examinations against all sorts of malpractices so as to enhance credibility, validity and reliability of the examinations,” he said.

Last week Knec issued a statement blocking contracted professionals, examiners and assessors from engaging in activities that might compromise their office.

“While preparing candidates for examinations, peer learning and enhancing pedagogical skills are good practices, the Council wishes to observe that the Oath of Secrecy which every contracted professionals, examiners and assessors signs prohibits among other things, engaging in activities deemed to pose conflict of interest and divulging ones identity as a KNEC examiner/assessor,” said Knec.

The Council ordered all contracted professionals, examiners and assessors to desist from facilitating in such workshops in schools. This is aimed to curb cheating.