Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has on Friday, March 19 warned private schools teachers who have asked students to pay for registration of exams saying they would be punished.
Magoha questioned why the teachers had failed to register the students despite the fact that the government pays for examination fees for all students in private and public schools.
"Our very firm instructions are, as the multi-agencies investigate those teachers, all children must be allowed to take examinations.
"In any case, it is very strange because the government pays examination fees for all the children, both in private and public schools. For those private schools who still charge children examination fees and they even fail to register them, that is criminal and they should be punished without any mercy," the CS emphasized.
He also urged candidates to take the forthcoming KCPE exams seriously, assuring them that the exams would be fair and the questions would be within the syllabus.
"Every child that deserves to do their examinations must do their examinations. I understand there are a few unscrupulous teachers in the private schools who did not register children for examinations. We are not going to allow our children to suffer because of a few crooks," asserted Magoha.
He was speaking in Kakamega County where he was monitoring KCPE rehearsals.
The CS addressed candidates of Kakamega Primary School and encouraged them that the examinations would be fair and the current learning ecosystem had been taken into consideration.
Prof Magoha has, however, warned candidates against cheating pointing out that the ministry was aware that some candidates intended to write down answers on face masks which are mandatory as part of the measures put in place to curb the spread of covid-19.
"We know that some of you are planning to use masks to cheat. Do not make such attempts because we shall frisk you and if caught, it's up to you," he said.
The national exams are set to begin on March 22, 2021 for KCPE while KCSE examinations are scheduled for March 26, 2021.
Over 1,788, 731 candidates are expected to sit for both KCPE and KCSE examinations.
