The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) wants Education CS George Magoha to call off national exams, arguing that students are not psychologically prepared to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education(KCSE).
Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori, in a feature aired by KTN News on Monday night, May 4, suggested that all efforts should be dedicated to fighting Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Misori stated that debates on when schools should open or when to sit for exams should thus be avoided, countering Kuppet's Chairperson Omboko Milemba proposal to have students resume school so as to avoid suspending the year's national examinations.
"We must focus our attention on health, then we shall ease the burden of anxiety on thinking about exams.
"The idea here is an exam being done on schedule (Ministry of Education and Kenya National Examination Council's timeline) and that is what I don't foresee taking place in 2020.
While speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, May 4, Faith Nashipae, a professional counsellor and psychologist at Thriving Families Kenya, stated that the home setup may affect students in one way or another, as Health CS Mutahi Kagwe had also urged Kenyans to adapt to new norms, which may take quite some time to do so.
"The traditional understanding of children being at home is holiday time. Parents are not used to training their own children and most homes don't have a specific schedule which is followed by children. In the new normal, all the above must happen. Otherwise, teachers will start from point A when schools resume.
"Parents with the understanding that they are not experts need to contact the teachers and find out what needs to be done. Then together with the children, develop a schedule that is flexible for learning, house chores and free time. Our children were used to some serious activities. Now, they have to stay indoors. This could be stressful and create pressure," the psychologist stated.
Nashipae went on to urge parents to spend more time to understand their children, and also create room for conversations to flow freely, as they were the only people the children can turn to express their thoughts,
"Parents need to keep following up on the feelings of the children and allow them to freely express themselves. They should establish a work out schedule and fun time too where they play some games together.
"Children and adolescents are equally stressed just like adults any perceived conflict among parents increases stress and anxiety. Parents need to keep reassuring their children as much as possible. Manage their contact time and share love in the family," the counsellor advised.
Kuppet Chairperson Omboko Milemba while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, April 24, ruled out e-learning as a platform for syllabus coverage, noting that students needed to resume school soon and urged Education CS George Magoha to open schools not later than June 2020.
"We as the union had proposed that we postpone the exams. But postponing exams is not just excitement from the union, but it is one of the drastic measures that can be taken by the union. That is a very drastic measure but we may use it as our last wildcard.
"The truth is that online learning guided by parents is neither here nor there. Rule out that. We cannot count that as curriculum completion and syllabus coverage, so all the students need to go back to school and finish the syllabus," Milemba stated.
Misori's sentiments also come a few days after the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) explained how national exams would be set. On Thursday, April 30, KICD Deputy Director Olive Mbuthia disclosed that the national examinations would be set according to the syllabus covered.
The dates for resumption of studies and the suspension of national exams has been a contentious issue, with CS Magoha reiterating that the exams would go on as planned, a move which both Kuppet and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have weighed in with different solutions.
On Thursday morning, April 30, (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, stated that the government needed to put in place new structures upon resumption of studies.
"Schools should reopen afresh if we would be able to contain this Coronavirus pandemic. "Right now, our main focus is on how we should adhere to Covid-19 protective measures. However, if we curb the disease, and schools reopen, it will be imperative to come up with a fresh plan on how studies will continue. Class Eight and Form Four students should be given the utmost priority," Sossion urged.
