The Ministry of Education is well-prepared to administer the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams despite torrential rains in some regions, Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang has said.
Kipsang spoke on Monday when he oversaw the start of the 2023 KCSE theory exams at the Westland subcounty containers where centre managers were picking papers for session one.
The PS said about 903,260 candidates will be sitting this year’s exam.
“There have been enhanced rains. But the Ministry of Interior has been giving us appraisals on what is happening on the ground. In Tana River yesterday, it affected two of our schools where you could see water encroaching into the compounds," he said.
“We requested our officers in the field to make an assessment this morning and check whether an exam can be conducted at the school.”
“If it cannot be done, then they must be able to make quick arrangements so our children do their exams,” Kipsang said.
As for movement of examination papers, Kipsang said on Sunday evening helicopters were deployed to areas with heavy rains. He said even places that did not get helicopters last week now have them.
“We have been able to deploy adequate helicopters to some places where the Ministry of Interior has said we could have challenges in transporting materials,” the PS said.
“In Turkana, we were told, there are two subcounties with enhanced rains. A chopper has been released to that region. We also have another two choppers in Tana River where there was a lot of rain,” he said.
He said the ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Interior to get updates on areas that may need extra help or resources to deliver exam papers due to the rains.
Exam managers have been advised to make the necessary judgement where there is need to move the learners.
“In areas where there are floods and the environment is not tenable for examinations, the candidates should be moved to a nearer school. It could even be a primary school because all our primary schools have closed. They have all finished their examinations,” Kipsang said
Last week Knec Chief Executive Officer David Njeng'ere gave assurance that no learner will miss their exams due to the enhanced rains.
