KNEC: Examinations to continue as scheduled

Written By:Marion Kanari/Mary Daraja,    Posted: Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Wasanga said the examination council has put in place elaborate measures that will ensure the examination timetable is not affected The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC)  Friday assured candidates and parents that the ongoing teachers strike will not affect the scheduled Kenya Certificate of Primary Examinations (KCPE)  and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) timetable. Speaking during a sensitization forum of County Education Directors Friday, Council Secretary Paul Wasanga said the examination council has put in place elaborate measures that will ensure the examination timetable is not affected by the ongoing strike. Wasanga said the Examination Council will incorporate the efforts of the recently trained 3000 examiners, County Education Directors and Supervisors to ensure the examination process runs smoothly. "I also request you to all be our ambassadors to improve the negative perception people have on KNEC.  Let us all work as a team and we will make Kenyans proud of examinations.  As we do so let us put God first and the rest will be okay."He said Wasanga further added that the council has put in place measures that will curb exam cheating in order to avoid a repeat of last year events where examination results were cancelled. "National Examinations are everyone business because if their credibility suffers then the education system will suffer.  It is my appeal to you all that this year we do everything within our powers to ensure examinations are free from irregularities and challenges as a team.  Let us embrace the best environment for the examination of our children." He added. Meanwhile, the ongoing strike by teachers, lecturers and non teaching staff in public universities has crippled learning in almost all public institutions. The stalemate between the government and the teaching fraternity continues with both sides holding hard line positions. Talks between the government and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) collapsed on Thursday with union officials accusing the government of refusing to recognize the 1997 pay deal. KNUT Chairman Wilson Sossion told KBC that there will be no dialogue until the government agrees to discuss the collective bargaining agreement of 1997. However, talks between the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) and the government were postponed to allow time for consultation. KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said they would return to the negotiating table but will not accept any attempts to arm twist teachers. University lecturers and non teaching staff who downed their tools yesterday have vowed not to return to work until their grievances are fully addressed. Their strike has further complicated matters in the education sector. Elsewhere, the doctors' strike enters day six today (Friday) as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmasicists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) and the Ministry of Medical services remain at logger heads over the issue. The union is now, in the process of mobilizing a countrywide strike set to start on the 13th of September. However, Kenyatta National Hospital distanced themselves from the saga and through their Social Media Facebook page, they have released guidelines for future registrars who wish to train at the national facility. Meanwhile Mathari hospital medical superintendent Dr. Kisivului Azenga maintains that normal operations are ongoing at the psychiatric hospital and that they are not aware of the anticipated strike. He says patients are being attended to as per the requirements of the hospital.