MT. ELGON — National examinations commenced countrywide on Monday, but heavy rains and poor road conditions in Mt. Elgon Constituency caused delays.
According to Kenya News Agency, the sub-county director of education for Mt. Elgon, schools such as Koshok, Kipkama, and Kibieto primary had to begin late due to transportation difficulties. The vehicle transporting the examination materials was unable to reach these centers following heavy rainfall that impaired road conditions. A shortage of examination material at Laboot Primary School was also promptly addressed.
In Kopsiro Sub County, Stephen Chemonges of the Kenya National Union of Teachers reported that the majority of pupils sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination and Kenya Primary School Examination Assessment were delayed by approximately an hour from the official start time. Despite these challenges, Chemonges lauded teachers for their commitment to ensuring the exams took place. The most significant issue, he pointed out, was the government’s lack of preparedness in transporting examination materials, especially in terms of vehicle availability and fuel supply.
The most affected schools included Kaptum, Kaboriot, Banandega, Chepkurkur, Korng’etuny, and Kapchebuk, among others. Chemonges has called upon the Ministry of Education to address the matter of pupils whose names were not captured in the nominal rollout of the examinational council urgently. “We need the government to give us at least one of the 205 vehicles distributed across the country,” said Chemonges, emphasizing the logistical challenges faced by the region.
While overseeing the national examination, Deputy County Commissioner Lotiatia Kipkech confirmed the security of exam centers in Mt. Elgon sub-county. According to Kipkech, security personnel have been deployed to all centers, ensuring a safe environment for the candidates.
By the end of the business day, all schools in the sub-county had returned the examination material, said Sub-county Director of Education Etyang. A total of 7,096 candidates are expected to sit for the national examinations in the region, with 3,009 scheduled for the Kenya Primary School Examination Assessment and 4,087 for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination.