By Roy Hezron
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is expected to increase examination marking centres to minimize the spread of Covid-19.
The new centres will create more room for markers to adhere to the Ministry of Health (MOH) Covid-19 protocols.
KNEC chairman Dr. John Onsati said all protocols will be observed during the marking period to minimize the spread.
He was speaking during the launch of the 2020 national examinations and issuance of security padlocks at Kenya School of Government in Nairobi on March 4, 2021.
The centres will mostly accommodate markers of Insha and Composition papers for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
They will also host those marking all papers for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) which are normally marked in different places around the country.
In 2019, the council used over 15 marking centres for KCSE, among them Mary Hill Girls, Alliance Boys and Alliance Girls, Limuru Girls, St. Georges Girls, Kenya High, Moi Forces Academy, Sun Shine School and Lenana School.
“The Covid-19 pandemic situation calls upon all of us to address any challenges appropriately,” added Dr. Onsati.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha also urged all those involved in the examinations administration to strictly comply with MOHs COVID-19 protocols.
The ministry has been enforcing the measures in schools since the resumption of studies in January.
Magoha emphasized that no centre manager will turn up at any examination containers to collect or drop examinations without wearing a face mask.
All officials who attend to services at the examination centres will be expected to use sanitizers or wash their hands before being allowed to handle exam materials.
At exam centres, all officials will have to wash their hands or sanitize before they can open examination scripts for distribution to candidates.
Examination officials will also be required to regularly sanitize or wash their hands before frisking candidates ahead of the start of examination sittings.
“I urge all of us to be mindful of our candidates, some of whom are in one way or the other affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We must all be cognizant of the environment of the 2020 examinations and give hope to all candidates by assuring them that none of them will be disadvantaged in the examination process,” said Prof. Magoha.
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