The National Parents Association (NPA) has commended Kajiado County Director of Education Dr Martin Cheruyiot for intervening to allow learners who had not been registered to sit their Grade 6 and Grade 9 examinations, while urging parents and school managers to take greater responsibility for examination registration.
NPA Chairman Silas David Obuhatsa praised Dr Cheruyiot for prioritising the interests of learners affected by registration challenges, saying children should not be denied opportunities because of administrative oversights by adults.
Obuhatsa, however, cautioned parents and school administrators against neglecting their duties, noting that failure to follow examination registration guidelines and deadlines could jeopardise learners’ academic progress.
He said parents must remain actively involved in their children’s education instead of leaving all responsibilities to teachers and school management. Schools, on their part, should maintain accurate registration records and resolve discrepancies before examination dates.
The association also called on parents whose children may have missed examinations due to registration problems to report immediately to their respective County Directors of Education for assistance, subject to applicable examination regulations.
Obuhatsa urged education officials to handle such cases with urgency and compassion while working with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and affected schools to establish whether lawful interventions are possible.
He further noted that the Government’s investment in education through capitation and other support programmes must be matched by accountability from parents and school managers to ensure learners benefit from the resources allocated to the sector.
At the same time, the NPA chairman issued a stern warning against examination malpractice, reminding parents and other stakeholders that security measures had been tightened to protect the credibility of national assessments.
He urged parents not to put their children’s future at risk through dishonesty, negligence or unlawful attempts to influence examination outcomes.
The chairman distinguished between seeking legitimate assistance for learners affected by registration errors and engaging in practices that undermine examination security, insisting that compassion should not be used to justify cheating.
The association reiterated that protecting learners’ educational opportunities requires cooperation among parents, school administrators, education officials and KNEC, while maintaining fairness and integrity in national examinations.
NPA said every eligible learner deserves a fair chance to pursue their education, but stressed that parents and school managers must fulfil their responsibilities in good time to prevent avoidable registration challenges.
The association maintained that while children should not bear the consequences of adults’ mistakes, examination integrity must remain protected to ensure all learners succeed through honest effort and proper preparation.
Reader Discussion (0)
Sign in to comment