TSC special travel documents for Knec Examiners 2021: TSC Boss issues this critical directive to all teachers contracted as KCSE, KCPE examiners in 2021
Owing to the ravaging third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, all teachers who have been contracted by the Kenya National Examinations Council, Knec to mark this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) national exams will be issued with special travel documents.
This follows the latest announcement by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Dr Nancy Macharia on Monday.
Dr. Macharia made it clear that these special travel documents will enable the examiners traverse all the currently locked counties including Nairobi, the epicentre of the Coronavirus, where most marking centres are concentrated.
TSC’s move has been necessitated by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s state address last week when he ordered the cessation of movement by road, rail, or air into and out of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, and Nakuru counties in a bid to contain spread of the deadly Novel Corona Virus. The Head of State also announced that the dawn to dusk curfews in these five countries will begin at 8pm and end at 4am, effective tonight.
The above restrictions would have hindered examiners from reporting to the marking centres; a problem that will now be solved by the Commission. TSC Boss Dr. Nancy Macharia on Monday announced that all KCPE and KCSE examiners are set to be given special passes. These will enable them to access marking centers in Nairobi and nearby marking centres.
“All teachers who will be travelling to Nairobi for the marking exercise are free to do so. We thank Government for allowing us to continue with this exercise uninterrupted,” said Macharia via a press statement.
This will add on the elaborate transportation plans that have been put in place by the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) that will see the examiners access the marking centres with ease. According to the plans, the examiners will be transported by school buses. See more details here; KNEC examiners 2021 to be transported in school buses to marking centres; See details.
Already, Education officers manning the ongoing KCSE exam have been issued with special travel letters so that they can be allowed to move freely to all parts of the country to ensure the examinations run within the specified KNEC guidelines. Officials from Knec, TSC and the Ministry of Education are traversing the country to ensure the tests run smoothly.
The TSC Boss has at the same time urged teachers to go for the free Covid 19 jab. He urged those aged 50 years and above to ensure they get vaccinated; since they are more vulnerable.
“Although the number of teachers seeking the vaccination is rising, we can do better. Currently, our 92, 850 teachers aged 50 years and above in public schools, 16,500 in private and international schools should particularly take up the jab,” She advised; adding that all teachers will gradually receive the jab.
Last week, while addressing Centre Managers and the media in Mombasa on Friday, March 26, Dr. Macharia reminded the examiners that Nairobi (where most Knec marking centres are concentrated) is the leading county in terms of new Corona virus infections.
”You are all aware that Nairobi and its immediate environs have one of the highest rates of the virus and therefore caution is required,” She warned.
She said teachers should take advantage of the priority given to them by the government and get vaccinated immediately adding that the 92,850 teachers in public schools above the age of 50 years are also eligible for the vaccine.
”Teachers have been classified as a priority group in the Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Report from the Ministry of Health indicates that there is an upward trend in the number of teachers presenting themselves for the jab,” she said.