A candidate sitting his exam from the hospital. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]The presidential directive to have special tests for candidates who fall sick or suffer from other calamities such as death in the family during national examinations will be implemented next year. Kenya national Examinations council chairman George Magoha said the council was studying the proposal by the president and will work out modalities of executing it.
The development will push Kenya to the ranks of countries that have humanized exams and respect the rights of learners in distress. Prior to the release of Kenya certificate of primary education results on Tuesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta met Education Cbinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’I, and knec officers and directed them to consider resists to cushion candidates in difficult and traumatic conditions.
The decision was announced by State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu, who said the president was concerned that the current practice of only one exam disadvantaged candidates in distress.Special exams are a traditional practice in universities, which give students afflicted by misfortunes a chance to be tested instead of waiting for a year or so to sit fresh tests.
“We do not expect to have many candidates sitting the tests if we go by the number of those who sit exams in special circumstances, “said Magoha. According to the don, Knec will henceforth prepare two sets of exams upfront that is the main tests and the special ones.it will also consider elements such as weighting of the grades, security, marking and the period to write the tests, given that the exam cycles must fit within a tight calendar.