Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi has called for a reduction in the number of police officers deployed to examination centres, saying the heavy security presence can intimidate candidates and distract them during exams.
Speaking after KCPE results were released at Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa, the former deputy prime minister said the Ministry of Education deserved credit for limiting cheating, but argued that security arrangements should be less intrusive inside exam rooms.
“I want to thank the Ministry of Education for ensuring that there was minimal cheating in exams. However, they have to reduce the number of police officers in exam rooms,” he said.
Mudavadi also urged the ministry to address early pregnancies by keeping young students away from sex, and to strengthen education planning so that the system can respond to emerging challenges in both schooling and careers.
He said investment in research and education should continue so that the sector can better meet the needs of the economy.
The Nasa principal further said pupils who do not qualify for secondary school should not be abandoned. He said the ministry should create alternative opportunities for them to continue growing and pursuing their goals.
“The Education ministry should also ensure that the future of the young children who may have not qualified to go to the secondary schools is well-taken care off. They are still young people and the ministry should provide alternative opportunities to support their growth,” Musalia said.
His remarks came as the government reiterated that all candidates who sat the tests would be admitted to secondary school. The President also said those who sat the Form Four examinations would be given places in technical training institutes and universities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said Form One selection would begin on Monday, adding that more than half of the candidates had scored above 200 marks.
The debate over security at exam centres had already drawn attention in 2018, with a separate report noting plans to deploy 3,000 police officers to secure exam centres and tackle emergencies, while another lobby warned that too many police could hurt exams.
