The long overdue 2020 KCPE, KCSE KNEC Examinations have finally been officially been launched by education CS Professor George Magoha.
To read his full speech during the launch of the 2020 KCSE and KCPE national exams at Jogoo House yesterday, click on the following link
Education CS Magoha Clears air on Principals losing power as financial managers
The CS also broke his Silence on the contentious issue of sending finance managers to schools to effectively manage School funds.
There were jitters amongst school Principals last month when details about the ministry’s plans to send finance managers to Schools emerged.
Teachers’ unions joined hands with Principals to castigate such a move saying that it will increase government expenditure for no good reason and instead bursars should be equipped with basic skills to handle finances.
Now in what seems to be good music to the ears of Principals and Headteachers, Magoha has dismissed such a move saying heads are professionals who cannot be devalued and reduced to work under a mere financial manager.
“How do you get a professional to be managed by a finance officer?” Querried Magoha.
This will be good news to heads of institutions who were staring at possibile loss of authority to incur expenditure.
The CS was talking today in a meeting to plan for KCSE administion where elaborate plans have been put in place for the running of the National Exams.
The CS said that only TSC teachers will be involved in Manning the Exams from invigilators to supervisors ruling out the use of BoM employed teachers.
Over 270000 teachers will be involved in supervising, invigilating and marking the Examinations.
The exams are set to begin on March 22 for KCPE which will run for three days and thereafter ushering in KCSE.
Over 1.8 milion candidates will sit for the exams Countrywide.
Head teachers of 30,000 primary schools have been cautioned against putting Grade Four pupils under undue pressure when school-based assessment tests start next week.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the tests are not examinations and also advised parents not to panic.
“No one should be putting pressure on children about the assessments because they are not examinations. Even parents must stop putting pressure on the learners because these are not examinations,” said Magoha.
He said teachers must be able to use readily available materials to administer the assessments.
“I urge colleagues from the education sector to ensure that the Grade Four assessment that begins next week goes on as planned. The Kenya National Examinations Council has already provided guidelines on this important assessment, which is part of the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC),” said Magoha.
“All schools received 50 per cent of the capitation and no one should say that they are unable to administer the school-based tests,” said Magoha.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia directed field officers to facilitate schools to administer the tests.
“I urge all field officers to support schools and ensure that class teachers access the Knec assessment tools and administer them to their learners as seamlessly as they can,” said Dr Macharia.
Macharia instructed teachers to ensure that the assessments are done in a normal class environment and during class time.
“I must emphasise that these tests should be done in normal class hours and all learners should not be put under any tense atmosphere different from their normal classes,” said Macharia.
The tests will be done by all Grade Four learners starting this Monday.