This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On October 14, 2019, the Kenyan government announced the suspension of leave for all education stakeholders, including teachers and police officers, ahead of the upcoming national examinations.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i made the announcement at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, stating that the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams period would require all hands on deck.
Dr. Matiang'i emphasized that he would also be on duty throughout the exam duration, adding that no mistakes from teachers or security teams dispatched to the various counties to oversee the examinations would be tolerated.
He stated, 'We are not going to allow any of our security people, especially the senior ones, to take leave because you know this time of the year is when we all have to focus on the welfare of our children.'
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) boss Nancy Macharia announced that 33,720 teachers would be involved in marking the KCPE and KCSE examinations, and that no more leave would be granted to teachers and other education stakeholders from then on.
Ms. Macharia also pointed out that exam malpractices in the country had reduced, with only 30 cases reported countrywide in 2018.
Education CS George Magoha reiterated the government's preparation in handling the exams, stating, 'We have sealed all loopholes.'
