Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang on Thursday, April 25, hinted that the government was keen on pulling out police officers from manning national examinations as has been the norm.
Speaking during the Annual Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Symposium on Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) held at the College of Insurance in South C, Nairobi County, Kipsang stated that the directive was aimed at allowing young learners to be themselves and deliver to the best of their capacity during the assessments.
Kipsang gave every indication that the new policy direction would be enforced in this year's national exams.
“This is the most opportune time to change how we administer assessments. I'll be very surprised to see police officers in assessment rooms this year. It's time to let our children be children,” Kipsang stated.
Currently, police officers are deployed in exam centres to support invigilators, provide security and avert any cases of disruption.
However, critics have in the past argued that their presence in the exam rooms intimidated learners.
Previously, in 2021, the government had also banned police officers from handling exam papers stating that only invigilators and supervisors should handle the papers.
Additionally, in other directives, KNEC Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O), David Njeng’ere stated that the government would roll out samples of Grade 9 assessments for specific schools.
“As part of preparations for summative assessment at Grade 9, we'll develop tools for a pilot to be conducted in sampled schools in June. By October, we'll issue sample papers to inform every learner at Junior School of how they will be assessed at Grade 9,” stated Njeng’ere.
Further, the Teachers Service Commission, (TSC) explained that it had rolled out a programme to equip teachers with knowledge and skills on the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
The TSC stated that it was collaborating with stakeholders such as KNEC, KICD, KISE and universities to implement the programme.
