No armed security during assessment of learners

 Nyamira County Commissioner has confirmed there will be no armed security personnel when learners undertake their Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).

Commissioner Mbui clarified this on Monday morning while overseeing the dispatch of assessment materials for primary and junior secondary school learners.

He said the centre managers would be administering an assessment meant to ascertain learners’ competence levels in various subjects they have been studying in school, and therefore, there was no need to deploy armed personnel in those centres.

“Security personnel are only required when we are administering examinations. However, assessment is a continuous exercise that enables learners to select the pathways they are competent in and have interest in, so they can be placed in appropriate senior secondary schools in the country,” Mbui said.

“Nyamira County will administer five categories of examinations and assessments this year, some of which comprise practical projects that began as early as January,” he added.

“The county registered a total of 21,611 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates in 195 centres. We enrolled 17,209 learners for the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) in 455 centres, a total of 17,786 candidates for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in 510 centres, 26 candidates for the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) in 11 centres, and 9 candidates for the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) in one centre,” the County Commissioner said.

He noted that they would be closely monitoring the assessment exercise to ensure it remains credible and that any challenges encountered would be addressed immediately to prevent any disruptions to this important exercise.

While addressing centre managers, Mbui emphasized the importance of time management when picking up and returning examination and assessment materials, and adherence to all KNEC regulations to ensure credibility and prevent irregularities.

“The monitoring of this exercise will adopt a multi-agency approach, bringing together the security team, education officers, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and other relevant stakeholders to execute this assignment with precision. Let us do our work honourably and be proud when the results are finally out,” the County Commissioner said.

He wished all candidates the best in this year’s examinations and assured them not to worry or panic, reminding them that their relentless hard work throughout their schooling would pay off.

He noted that the exercise simply seeks to confirm that learners have grasped the concepts taught in class through examinations and assessments.