Speedboats to deliver exams in Budalang’i in case of floods – Mangeni

Speedboats will be on standby in Budalang’i to deliver examination papers just in case the area experiences floods, the Principal Secretary department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Susan Mangeni has said.

The PS presided over the distribution of Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam papers in Busia’s Teso North subcounty on Monday.

She said the Kenya Coast Guard and National Government Administration Officers will be on standby to use boats to deliver exams to centres that will be affected by floods in case it rains heavily.

Schools located in islands in Lake Victoria, she said, will received exam papers delivered by boats courtesy of the Kenya Coast Guard.

Those who can’t easily be reached via land will receive the exam papers from Bondo in Siaya County, Mangeni said.

“Flooding in Budalang’i is something that keeps on happening and the Ministry of Education especially the state department of basic education has put in place all the required measures to take care of such emergencies,” Mangeni said.

“We have not experienced any flooding so far but we are ready to respond with speedboats just in case it rains and the water levels increase.”

She said officers from the Ministry of Education as well as the National Police Service will remain vigilant to ensure no cheating takes place during the exam period.

“Schools should shun any temptations of exam cheating,” the PS said.

“Engaging in exam malpractices is tantamount to cheating pupils’ career.”

The PS later toured Kakurikit Primary School which was recently ravaged by heavy winds that blew the roofs of classrooms.

“We are well prepared and that is why even here in Teso North as a result of the heavy winds that destroyed some school, we are able to conduct the examinations in those schools,” the former Busia county woman representative aspirant said.

Budalangi’ is prone to floods and whenever heavy rains are experienced particularly in upper Rift Valley the area floods displacing thousands of people.

The last time floods hit the area was in 2020 when half of the subcounty was submerged.

Over 40,000 people were displaced as floods destroyed houses and farms.

County Director of Education James Ekaliyo said 31,500 candidates are sitting for the KCPE exams in the county as another 30,780 seat for KPSEA papers.

Ekaliyo urged school heads or centre managers to allow KPSEA candidates whose names do not appear in the nominal roll or failed to register sit for the exams.

County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto said the government has put elaborate measures in place to ensure exam papers reach schools located in areas with poor terrain.

“We have organised exam papers for two centres in Bunyala South Ward which will be picked from Bondo in Siaya County while those for schools in Sigulu Islands in Lake Victoria will be delivered by Kenya Coast Guards Services using boats," he said.

Ruto warned those found culpable of engaging in exam malpractices that they will be arrested and prosecuted.

Others present included County Quality Assurance and Standards Officer William Makori, Teso North subcounty Director of Education Elizabeth Marangach, Teso North DCC Stephen Wambura and senior county police officers.