Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Wilson Sossion, has disagreed with NASA leader Raila Odinga on the issue of postponing national examinations.
Speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Sossion maintained that the examination calendar should not in any way be affected by presidential polls.
Sossion, who is also an ODM Nominated MP, noted that the elections and examinations are two independent activities which should not be tampered with.
According to the lawmaker, the electoral process is for voters while the examinations are meant for students, therefore, one exercise should not affect the other.
He affirmed that the dates had already been set and students were ready to sit for the papers hence should not be changed for whatever reason.
“School programmes should not be politicised. For any nation children come first… The dates as set out and outlined should not be altered for whatever reason.
“Regardless whether there are changes or there are no changes in the dates of the election, we shall support the timetable as it is and as it is set out,” he asserted.
He was speaking after a meeting between Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and education stakeholders including teachers' representatives and KNEC officials.
On his part, Matiang'i announced that there was no intention to change the exam schedule since IEBC had not made any official communication to the Ministry indicating that there might be changes on the election date.
Immediately the electoral body set October 17 as the presidential election date, the NASA leader opposed the day noting that it should pushed even if it will affect the KCSE and KCSE.
Odinga called for a change on the examination calendar stating that the candidates would not “die” if the process is postponed for two weeks.
