- The country’s examination classes have entered the homestretch, with KCSE candidates now having only 72 days to prepare.
- Parents, teachers and schools should collectively support candidates through material, academic and emotional means.
- Stakeholders are urged to extend the same support to KJSEA, KPSEA and final college examination candidates.
All examination timetables are out, and the country’s examination classes are entering one of the most demanding stages of the academic year, with candidates preparing for KCSE, KJSEA, KPSEA and final college examinations now firmly in the homestretch. For KCSE candidates, only 72 days remain, making the final period particularly critical. With the official examination timetable already released, the countdown has moved from the calendar to the classroom, the home and the daily routines of thousands of candidates.
At this stage, the responsibility cannot be placed on learners alone. Parents, teachers, schools, education stakeholders and communities all have a role to play in creating an environment where teachers can teach effectively and learners can concentrate fully on their preparations.
For teachers, the final weeks are often among the most demanding. They are expected to complete revision programmes, identify learning gaps, provide individual attention, assess progress and prepare candidates psychologically for the examinations. They therefore need the cooperation of parents and school administrations — adequate teaching and learning materials, uninterrupted instructional time, timely communication and a conducive working environment can enable them to give candidates their best.
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Learners, too, require comprehensive support. Parents are being encouraged to pay school fees and clear other school requirements in good time, ensuring that candidates are not unnecessarily interrupted during this crucial period. They should also provide required learning materials, support regular attendance and create conducive environments for revision at home.
Beyond material support, learners need encouragement and reassurance. Examination pressure can affect concentration and confidence as the dates draw closer, so parents and teachers should motivate candidates while helping them develop realistic and disciplined study routines. Adequate meals, sufficient sleep and reasonable rest also matter — a candidate who is physically exhausted or constantly anxious may struggle to make the most of revision time.
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Parents can further support candidates by monitoring distractions, particularly excessive use of phones and social media, while maintaining open communication with teachers about academic progress and any challenges affecting the learner. Teachers, on their part, must continue providing targeted revision and identifying areas where candidates require additional assistance, while learners should feel free to ask questions, seek clarification and request support in subjects they find challenging.
The same spirit of support should extend to candidates preparing for KJSEA and KPSEA, as well as college students approaching their final examinations. Although these examinations differ in level and purpose, all candidates require adequate preparation, guidance, learning resources and encouragement.
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The homestretch is therefore a period for collective responsibility rather than blame or pressure. Teachers cannot do it alone. Learners cannot do it alone. Parents cannot do it alone. The strongest results are likely to come from an environment where the three work together, supported by school leadership and the wider education community.
With 72 days to KCSE, every lesson matters, every revision session counts, and every intervention that closes a learning gap can make a difference. The message to the country’s examination classes is simple: stay focused, remain disciplined and use every remaining day wisely. And the message to those supporting them is equally clear — give teachers the support to teach, give learners the support to learn, and give parents the responsibility to fully participate in both the struggles and the results.
The homestretch is here, and there is no time to waste.
By Hillary Muhalya
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