Some 12374 candidates in 294 examination centers in Kirinyaga County will be taking KPSEA exams this year.The national assessment exams under new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) kicks off today with Mathematics and English subjects
While supervising the distribution of exams papers at Kianyaga in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow said all the security arrangements were set and they expect a successful delivery and credible exams. All center managers turned up to pick the exams.
“We have no doubt that this is going to be a successful exercise and the exam will be delivered as planned. We are working with all agencies,” said Allasow. He said no unusual incident has been reported so far and they would partner with other education stakeholders to offer assistance during the entire process. While wishing students success, he asked the parents, teachers and all stakeholders to support the candidates.
“No incident has been reported so far and the parents should give the children the support they require. I ask all stakeholders to join hands to ensure exams are credible,” he said. Kirinyaga County Education Officer Lydia Mutegi reaffirmed the security of the learners with teachers as the police would no longer be part of the exam management personnel.
She added that for Kenya Intermediate Level Assessment (KILEA) for special children, both teachers and students were ready. “We no longer have special exams but we have KILEA meant for special children running parallel to the main KIPSEA. The children are safe with teachers. We no longer have police officers, because they are intimidating to learners considering grade 6 learners are still young between 10-11 years,” Gategi said
Pupils at Alber School-Kutus receive guidance from supervisors before start of exams.
The stakeholders in education noted the positive impact of new system of education in imparting knowledge to pupils in different areas Alfred Nyaga, Alber school-Kutus, proprietor with 197 students in this year KPSEA exams, expressed confidence in the pupils to achieve the best grade.
He noted that the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) has increased pupils’ levels of creativity and innovation skills. “Pupils appear to be very creative, innovative, and the system is very good on the side of the pupils, where they are learning with a lot of ease. They are advancing along their lines, areas they feel best fit and hence the importance of this CBC system,” Nyaga said
He acknowledged support from the parents and urged them to allow their children to continue pursuing their passion and majority parents have understood the system. “On the side of parents, we have continued to tell them that they should not stress the children on academics, because they are those who are talented in other fields, they are those who are talented in music, they are those who are very much talented when it comes to computer,” he added
In addition, he said parents have embraced the new system and majority were understanding it more. “We are urging parents to give their pupils ample time, so that they may come out with something new, and we are going on well and the parents appear to have understood this system,” he said.
The exams will continue for the next 3 days.