By Norah Musega
Kenya Union Post Primary Education Teachers Migori branch has expressed disappointment in the due process followed by the Ministry of Education to award contracts on supervision of the national exams.
Speaking during Kenya National Examination Council briefing held at Uriri boys’ high school, the branch chairman Henry Otunga noted that most teachers who were awarded contracts were not present at the meeting since they had not been informed about it.
During national exams the ministry has always urged teachers and locals to desist from accessing the examination centres to avoid any suspicions over cheating.
Otunga called on the Education ministry to reconsider the directive as most teachers are residents within the premises of their working stations where some of them have also been contracted by KNEC to supervise or invigilate the exams.
“In as much as teachers would be willing to take the job, they ought to have been informed earlier enough to make necessary preparations.The ministry of Education must be realistic on the kind of logistics they are providing for the teachers during exams especially for supervisors and invigilators,” noted Otunga.
He said regulations set to guide the exam process and to enhance smooth running of the exercise do not tally with the reality on the ground especially on how teachers involved in the exercise are expected to operate during the period.
“A teacher working and living in Uriri High school is expected to relocate from his or her residence during exams yet they remain supervisors in the neighboring schools. How then does the ministry expect the teachers to operate during exams if they have been told to stay outside the schools?” posed Otunga.
He said although a meeting was held to orient the supervisors and examination centre managers of both primary and secondary schools on the rules and regulations of the due process as per the expectations of KNEC standards, the teachers were only informed of their responsibilities in the exam process a few hours to the meeting.
The exams are expected to commence this month and will run for a period of one month.
“Our main objective is to facilitate mutual coexistence between teachers and related authorities within the education sector. Respect must also prevail for this to be possible. There are teachers who were willing to apply for the job but were denied the opportunity to do so,” added Otunga.
The unionist urged education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha to desist from using media platforms to address the issue of exams, noting that some of the information that he has revealed through television channels and newspapers will create tension and confusion among candidates during the exam period.
“The CS could be reacting on intelligence on whatever information his officers have gathered on the ground, but my only wish is for his office to relay the information to the relevant authorities to be on high alert rather than going public with such information which might result in tension and cause confusion among candidates.
On his part, the sub county education director, Mr. Simon Mogendi urged teachers to adhere to the stipulated rules during the exam period to avoid conflict with the examination officials and security personnel and to enhance a smooth working relationship.
He noted that the all participants in the examination must always wear the badges provided by the Ministry of Education through KNEC for easy identification especially when collecting exams.
