Teachers and other stakeholders raised concerns over the challenges anticipated in the national exams scheduled for Monday, November 28.
They noted that since the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams are set to start on the same day, it will confuse the learners and interrupt those still in session.
"KPSEA exams are concluded about one hour before the KCPE exam, this means we will have to teach the learners the different sounds of the bell," noted one of the teachers.
Additionally, teachers lamented over a short period, learners had to prepare for the two national exams.
At least 3 million learners are expected to sit for the KCPE and grade six exams.
This huge number was also a matter of concern compared to the number of teachers needed to supervise the exams.
"The teachers have had a tough time preparing two groups of learners for the national exams," lamented one of the teachers.
In some areas in the north, the teachers lamented over the number of early pregnancies among the candidates.
"For the grade six learners, we have ten girls who are pregnant and in class eight we have 28 girls," Harun Maina, Kajiado county commissioner stated.
Additionally, in the areas affected by the ongoing drought, the teachers lamented the shortage of food but assured them there were measures to provide lunch to the candidates.
However, they emphasised that any form of cheating will not be condoned by the relevant authorities.
Notably, the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu assured parents that enough measures were in place to curb cheating.
He noted that detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will monitor online platforms to check for any exam malpractices.
