Confusion reigned on the first day of primary schools examination as 67 Schools in Uasin Gishu and Bungoma counties failed to collect their examination papers.

The Education Ministry says most of the affected schools are those that shut down after the Covid-19 pandemic which forced pupils to register in other schools.

In Uasin Gishu 52 schools failed to sit for the Examinations after the centre managers, failed to collect examination papers while in Bungoma County, 15 private schools failed to collect the examination materials.

Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Jwan, who presided over distribution of examination materials for Turbo sub-county, said the schools, all of them private mainly in the sub county level had registered candidates but closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“We have a number of KPSEA materials that have not been picked because registration took place when learners were in Grade Three but during Covid, these 52 centres were closed. Some had six, others five registered candidate but the learners moved to other schools. We are keeping the materials safely in the container but we are flexible so that if we find a school that has less papers, we will take them there,” added the PS.

He presided over distribution of national examination materials for the Kenya Primary School Examination Assessment (KPSEA) for grade six and national examination for class eight to 160 KPSEA centres and 180 KCPE centres for Turbo sub county, Uasin Gishu County.  

The distribution of the national examination materials for Grade Six and Standard Eight candidates started at 6am in the county.

The Ministry is also investigating a school in Nakuru County for irregularly transferring candidates to other schools to sit for examinations.

The PS said that a school in Nakuru was under investigation over suspected irregularity after the school transferred candidates to other schools to sit  examinations.

“We have a report of parents who complained that an academy transferred learners to different schools because they felt they were not good. This amounts to an irregularity. Our priority is to protect learners and ensure they sit examinations peacefully but we have launched investigation into the matter,” said Dr Julius Jwan. 

“The registration for KPSEA exams took place when we were in grade 3 because we started doing the formative assessment and there papers were prepared but during Covid most of these schools closed down they were all private … These schools closed down and learners went to other schools,”he added.

In Narok County, 248 expectant candidates sat for the examination with authorities assuring them of support during the examination period.

Elsewhere in Tana River County, nine candidates sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examination were forced to travel a distance of 135 kilometres to do their examinations after they discovered that they were registered at a different examination centre.

But despite the challenges, the examination was seamless in most parts of the country, with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu giving an assurance that they have put in place water-tight measures to safeguard the credibility of the national examinations.

“We have made all the necessary preparations and according to the arrangement we have this year, we don’t expect to get any single malpractice anywhere within the country,” said Machogu.

With no clarity over the placement of junior secondary school learners the Cabinet Secretary assured concerned parents that the presidential working party on education reforms will in the next two weeks give a report which will inform the decision.

11,000 pupils living with disabilities are writing the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA). The examination which started Monday will end on Wednesday.

Confusion reigned on the first day of primary schools examination as 67 Schools in Uasin Gishu and Bungoma counties failed to collect their examination papers.

The Education Ministry says most of the affected schools are those that shut down after the Covid-19 pandemic which forced pupils to register in other schools.

In Uasin Gishu 52 schools failed to sit for the Examinations after the centre managers, failed to collect examination papers while in Bungoma County, 15 private schools failed to collect the examination materials.

Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Jwan, who presided over distribution of examination materials for Turbo sub-county, said the schools, all of them private mainly in the sub county level had registered candidates but closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“We have a number of KPSEA materials that have not been picked because registration took place when learners were in Grade Three but during Covid, these 52 centres were closed. Some had six, others five registered candidate but the learners moved to other schools. We are keeping the materials safely in the container but we are flexible so that if we find a school that has less papers, we will take them there,” added the PS.

He presided over distribution of national examination materials for the Kenya Primary School Examination Assessment (KPSEA) for grade six and national examination for class eight to 160 KPSEA centres and 180 KCPE centres for Turbo sub county, Uasin Gishu County.  

The distribution of the national examination materials for Grade Six and Standard Eight candidates started at 6am in the county.

The Ministry is also investigating a school in Nakuru County for irregularly transferring candidates to other schools to sit for examinations.

The PS said that a school in Nakuru was under investigation over suspected irregularity after the school transferred candidates to other schools to sit  examinations.

“We have a report of parents who complained that an academy transferred learners to different schools because they felt they were not good. This amounts to an irregularity. Our priority is to protect learners and ensure they sit examinations peacefully but we have launched investigation into the matter,” said Dr Julius Jwan. 

“The registration for KPSEA exams took place when we were in grade 3 because we started doing the formative assessment and there papers were prepared but during Covid most of these schools closed down they were all private … These schools closed down and learners went to other schools,”he added.

In Narok County, 248 expectant candidates sat for the examination with authorities assuring them of support during the examination period.

Elsewhere in Tana River County, nine candidates sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examination were forced to travel a distance of 135 kilometres to do their examinations after they discovered that they were registered at a different examination centre.

But despite the challenges, the examination was seamless in most parts of the country, with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu giving an assurance that they have put in place water-tight measures to safeguard the credibility of the national examinations.

“We have made all the necessary preparations and according to the arrangement we have this year, we don’t expect to get any single malpractice anywhere within the country,” said Machogu.

With no clarity over the placement of junior secondary school learners the Cabinet Secretary assured concerned parents that the presidential working party on education reforms will in the next two weeks give a report which will inform the decision.

11,000 pupils living with disabilities are writing the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA). The examination which started Monday will end on Wednesday.