KCPE exams kick off

Written By:marion kanari,    Posted: Tue, Dec 04, 2012

Marking of KCPE is expected to start on December 17 and end on December 24 The Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination candidates Tuesday officially began writing their examination papers. Over 800,000 candidates reported to classes prepared to tackle the mathematics and English papers scheduled for the first day of the three day exams. Science and Kiswahili papers are planned for Wednesday and Religious education and Social studies set for the last day. In Nairobi, candidates braved chilly weather to sit their exams. This year the candidates have to write the exam with tough penalties for both the teacher and the students who engages in cheating. Over 60,000 security personnel have been deployed in examination centres across the country with about 22,482 supervisors and 50,242 invigilators contracted by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to administer the examinations. Unlike in the past, this year's results will be released on January 31. Meanwhile,KNEC Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga assured Coast residents that elaborate security measures have been put in place to ensure that KCPE exams proceed without any hitches in all counties amid fears of insecurity and exam interference. "Security has been has heightened nationwide and particularly in the Coast region which has recently been plagued by cases of insecurity," said Mr. Wasanga. He lauded efforts by security personnel countrywide who have worked together with KNEC to ensure that Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) proceeded smoothly. We anticipate that the primary exams will also go on without any major issues and interferences he said. Mr. Wasanga was speaking to journalists at Mbaraki Police Station in Mombasa where the KCPE examination papers where being collected by education officials to be transported to various distribution centers across the region. Similarly KNEC will be monitoring the situation on the ground ensuring smooth process and that examination material reach the respective schools in time especially in areas like Tana River County in the Coast hit recently by floods and North Horr in North Eastern with insecurity issues. The swollen Tana River is a seasonal challenge and the situation seems to have stabilized in North Horr, said Mr. Wasanga adding that KNEC is ready to airlift the exam materials to affected areas. Already several individuals across the country including invigilators, teachers and even students are in courts facing exam cheating cases, said Mr. Wasanga. He informed all candidates especially those who were in Tana River county recently plagued by tribal clashes to report to the nearest examination center in the region with relevant documentation so that that they can be allowed to sit for the KCPE exams.