This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On Tuesday, Education PS Belio Kipsang supervised the opening and distribution of examination scripts for Kiswahili and Religious Education subjects at the Westlands Sub county headquarters.
He was responding to reports that some teachers and students had fallen ill after inhaling chemical fumes during the exam taken last Thursday.
According to Kipsang, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education takes care of the safety of the learners while designing test items in national examinations.
He noted that the same concerns guide KNEC and the Ministry when designing practical assignments in all subjects taught in Schools like Biology, Agriculture, Art and Design, Chemistry and other subjects.
Dr. Kipsang clarified that the chemicals used in the exam were the same ones students had been using during chemistry practical in regular lessons.
He added that the teachers who teach Chemistry and other basic sciences are adequately trained to take care of the safety of students during teaching and when they are doing practical examinations involving chemicals approved for use in schools.
Dr. Kipsang said he himself visited several schools while students were sitting for Chemistry Practical Paper and did not receive any complaint regarding the chemical used for Chemistry practical.
The Chairman of the Principals of the Association of National Schools, Mr. Casper Maina also stated that his members had not seen or heard anything unusual about the practical paper in Chemistry students did last week.
“Our teachers and laboratory assistants are trained on how to handle Practical subjects,” Mr. Maina said.
