The Member of Parliament (MP) of Wajir East Aden Daud has criticized the preparedness of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education when it comes to delivering national exams to remote areas.
Daud, while expressing his gratitude to the government for ensuring the timely delivery of national exams to hard-to-reach regions, did not mince words in ridiculing the unpreparedness of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Government in adequately equipping students in North Eastern Kenya for their ongoing KNEC exams.
“While it is commendable to ensure the timely distribution of exams to these regions, the lack of teachers to adequately prepare the students for these exams poses a significant challenge,” he noted.
He likened this situation to “putting the cart before the horse,” emphasizing the absurdity of expecting success when the students have not received the necessary education.
Furthermore, Daud highlighted the chronic teacher shortage in the North Eastern region, leaving students ill-prepared for their ongoing exams.
He passionately decried the violation of the fundamental human right to education for all, asserting that such conditions amount to the highest level of inequality and impunity within the education system.
To compound matters, Daud pointed out the extreme hardships faced by students in North Eastern, who are forced to travel over 80 kilometres to reach an examination centre, a daunting journey due to low school enrolments in the region.
An official examination centre is required to have at least 30 candidates, exacerbating the challenges faced by students in these remote areas.
In response to Daud’s concerns, Honourable Julius Melly, MP for Tinderet and Chair of the Parliamentary Education Committee, clarified that the North Eastern region had over 6,000 teachers, with insecurity in the area being the primary reason some teachers had fled.
Despite this clarification, the debate over educational disparities and preparedness for KNEC exams in North Eastern Kenya continues to be a pressing concern.
By Amoto Ndiewo
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