President William Ruto has assured the country that adequate security measures are in place as children prepare for their national examinations beginning next week.
Ruto said the Ministries of Education and Interior have concluded all the arrangements to ensure there are no hitches during the crucial exercise.
“As a government, we want to assure our children that there is adequate security, adequate supervision, all the invigilators are in place,” he stated.
According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), a total of 965,501 candidates are set to sit for the KCSE in 10,565 centres and 1,303, 913 for KPSEA in 35, 573 centres.
This brings the total to 2,279,414 candidates across the country.
Speaking when he presided over the Presidential Awards-Kenya (PA-K) ceremony at State House, Ruto also extended his best wishes to the candidates as they undertake the exams.
“My very best wishes. My message to all of them is may God’s guidance, fortitude and grace be with them,” he said.
He urged them to take the exams seriously “knowing that the prayers of their parents and all of us is on them as we guide them and mentor them into the future”.
During the ceremony, some 1, 517 young people ages between 14-24 years from various schools including colleges and universities were awarded.
The group represents a total number of 2,397 from across the country recognised for the gold awards which is the highest in the programme.
PA-K is a non-formal education and learning framework through which young people’s achievements outside of academia are recognized and celebrated.
The main aim is to equip them for life by encouraging them to acquire universal skills to help them thrive.
The universal skills are achieved through engagement in activities that include getting physically active, volunteering within their communities, and discovering a sense of adventure outside the classroom.
PA-K, which was launched in Kenya in 1966.
It is a member of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award which oversees the Award Programme in over 140 countries.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was founded by His Royal Highness (HRH), The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT in 1956, in conjunction with Kurt Hahn, a German educationalist and Sir John Hunt.
The Award has over the years extended its reach impacting the lives of over 121,000 young people in over 1,000 schools, Universities, Middle level Colleges, Youth groups, rehabilitation centres and open Award centres across the country.
He asked the relevant ministry to support the board and the management in ensuring more youth across the country participate in it “so that we can have developed their character and skills” to make them progress and become successful.