40 KCPE Candidates Traced After Baringo’s Banditry Attacks
Following banditry attacks over the weekend that killed at least four people and injured scores more, 40 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examinations (KCPE) candidates from Sinoni and Kasiela primary schools in Baringo County have been traced.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohammed stated that candidates who fled their homes following the clashes would now sit for their exams at Muchongoi Primary School, where they would be provided with meals and boarding facilities.
The Regional Commissioner, who previously oversaw the distribution of examination papers, assured schools of security and prompt action to ensure that exam materials arrive at examination centers on time.
He stated that police and other security agencies have been deployed to staff all 7,350 examination centers in the region, assuring candidates, parents, and supervisors that the area will remain calm during the exam period.
Maalim also stated that platoons of the General Service Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit had been strengthened in armed conflict-affected counties such as West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, and Laikipia.
“Security has been heightened in the North Rift Region and all exam centres will be manned adequately,” the Commissioner said.
Maalim stated that, while Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) regulations required centers with fewer than 30 candidates to be merged with others, KCPE and KCSE candidates in schools within Kerio Valley with fewer than 30 candidates would be allowed to continue with their examinations at their respective institutions following consultations between security, the Ministry of Education, and KNEC.
In total, 340,304 candidates, including 171,651 boys and 168,669 girls, would take the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in the 14 counties of the Rift Valley region. A total of 292,414 candidates are drawn from public schools, while 47,890 are registered in private institutions.
Maalim stated at the launch on Monday that 51% of the candidates are boys and 49% are girls. He added that the Teachers Service Commission has hired over 25,000 invigilators for the exercise in the region.
He attempted to assuage concerns about leakage by stating that all examination materials were secure and that no candidate would have an unfair advantage over the others during the test.
“It is the duty of security personnel, centre managers (school principals), supervisors and invigilators to ensure that malpractices do not interfere with the credibility of the exams. We will arrest any individual possessing or purporting to have examination materials before scheduled time,” Maalim warned.
According to the Regional Commissioner, “strangers” will not be permitted in schools.
“A stranger is anybody who is not a candidate, centre manager, supervisor, security officer or an education officer. Let us act firmly in the interest of our children, anyone who breaches any aspect of examination will be apprehended,” he explained.
Maalim confirmed that, despite security challenges, all schools in West Pokot County were open for business and that candidates would take exams at their designated locations.
Candidates from Changach Barrack Secondary School have been relocated to Kiptolos Secondary School, while those from Kipkurut Primary School will take their exams at Kapchelal Primary School, according to the Regional Commissioner in Elgeyo Marakwet.
KCPE Exam Disrupted By Armed Bandits
Candidates from Kapturo and Chepksin Primary Schools in Baringo County will take their exams at Taboroi Primary School.
Kapkechir Primary School has been relocated to Karne Primary School, Kasiela Primary School has been relocated to Sinoni Primary School, Arabal Primary School and Kapindasum have been relocated to Chemongorin Primary School, and Tuyotich Primary School and Tuyotich Secondary School candidates will take their exams at Kabel Primary School.
He stated that a total of 208,935 candidates from public schools and an additional 16,017 from private institutions in the region will take the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, which begins on March 14.
In total, 224,852 students have registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in the region, including 113,160 boys and 111,692 girls.
Examination materials will be stored in 135 containers set up in sub-counties and managed by sub-county commissioners and education officers.
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He reassured candidates that adequate transportation arrangements had been made to ensure that exam papers, invigilators, supervisors, and security personnel arrived at all centers.
He also stated that local administrators’ motorbikes and choppers would be on standby to deliver papers and personnel to areas inaccessible by four-wheel vehicles.
State Assures Security To KCPE Candidates And Exam Administrators
