The decision by the Education Cabinet Secretary to introduce directives as a way of curbing rampant cheating during national exams has elicited mixed reactions in Kisumu with a section of the residents lauding the directive as others dismissed it as retrogressive.
In the new directive, Dr Fred Matiang'i banned all third term visits by parents.
Also, all extra-curricular activities were scrapped during third term.
Above that, the CS banned all prayer days in schools as a way of addressing the runaway examination cheating that is putting the credibility of the results into question.
This move has received mixed reactions in Kisumu with majority of the parents approving it a a system that will work to restore the confidence of Kenyans in the exams.
They said children from poor families have suffered at the hands of the rich who visit their children occasionally to give out 'leakage'.
"This is a move that we have been waiting for long. The CS has done a credible job. Children normally access leakage during those visits. But for those who are poor, they are disadvantaged," said Philip Opiyo, a resident of Manyatta slums.
His opinion was backed by Jeremiah Odhiambo who said the move was made in the right direction.
However, to Rosemary Okoth, the move is not a good one. He said third term is a serious term where students especially those in candidate classes require to meet their parents before sitting for examinations.
"Denying children time to meet their parents is not good. They need our blessings before they seat for those examinations," she said.
She added that as parents, they have never condoned cheating and that the CS came up with the new directive on the assumption that students access leakage through parents, something she said was wrong.