There has been a significant drop in the number of expectant candidates sitting for the ongoing KCSE examination in Uasin Gishu.
When the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) was examined early this year, a record 82 candidates were pregnant in the county.
The high number of expectant candidates was at the time attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic that had forced schools to close for almost a year – distorting the education calendar.
But in the ongoing KCSE, Uasin Gishu County Director of Education Harrison Muriuki says only 30 candidates are expectant.
“This is a significant drop. The last exam we had so many of cases of pregnant girls but we have managed to bring the numbers down,” Muriuki told Uasin Gishu News at the end of the second week of the examinations.
He attributed the drop to continued community sensitization by officers at the Ministry of Education and local leaders on the need for parents to pay a close attention at their children – both boys and girls.
“We will continue engaging parents and members of the public so that we bring those numbers to zero. Our girls need to get an opportunity to study up to the end without any distractions like pregnancy,” said the CDE.
“As a ministry, we will enhance engagement with our learners so that they understand that relationship can come after school,” he added.
Candidates in hospital
Muriuki further noted that there are at least 16 candidates that have been sitting for their form four examinations while at their hospital beds.
Six of the candidates are from Uasin Gishu while 10 are from neighboring counties.
“One candidate is from Homa Bay, two from Kericho and several others. Uasin Gishu is a medical hub and health facilities around Uasin Gishu receive patients from across the region,” noted the County Director of Education.
He however said the exams have been going only smoothly with no cases of malpractices reported so far.
Candidates across the country are expected to sit for their last paper for the 2021 KCSE next week.
Thereafter, marking will kick off with results expected as early as January 2023.
100% transition
The county education director further challenged parents to prepare for transition of their children to the next level of education.
He said all candidates that sat for the class eight examinations – KCPE – will transit to secondary school under the government’s 100 percent transition policy.
“For form 4s, candidates are expected to join universities. For all those that will not manage to join university, we have sufficient technical colleges, and the good thing is that government nowadays provides bursaries for those studying technical courses in private institutions,” Muriuki said.
