Tag Archives: Amina Mohammed

Kenya not among the top countries with high teenage marriages prevalence

Kenya does not rank highly among the counties in the whole world with high prevalence of child marriages, a United Nations Report shows. This is despite the many pregnancy cases reported for candidates sitting this year’s  Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, KCSE, and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, KCPE, examinations.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), in October this year (2018) released a list of  20 countries in the world with highest prevalence of child marriage. The report shows that Niger ranks first with a 76 per cent prevalence. Central African Republic comes in second with 68 per cent, Chad 67 per cent, Bangladesh 59 per cent, Burkina Faso 52 per cent, and Mali 52 per cent.

Photo- A pregnant student. Kenya is grappling with high cases of pregnancies among students.
Photo- A pregnant student. Kenya is grappling with high cases of pregnancies among students.

South Sudan has 52 per cent, Guinea 51 per cent, Mozambique 48 per cent, Somalia 45 per cent and Nigeria 43 per cent, are Malawi 42 per cent, Madagascar 41 per cent, Eritrea 41 per cent. The top 20 list also features: Ethiopia with 40 per cent, Uganda 40 per cent, Nepal 40 per cent, Sierra Leone 39 per cent, Democratic Republic of Congo 37 per cent and Mauritania 37 per cent. The report shows that close to 700 million women alive today were married as children, and 17 per cent of them or 125 million live in Africa. Kenya is grappling with high cases of teenage pregnancies, a scenario that forced the Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Amina Mohammed, to form a team that is probing the cases.

Run away Moi Kamusinga teacher arrested for allegedly defiling a student

A Moi Girls High School teacher who was accused of defiling a student at the school has been arrested after being on the run for five months. Mr. Willy Wanyonyi Musikali, who is suspected to have raped the student in June this year, 2018, was arrested yesterday, Tuesday 27th November 2018, in Bungoma by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, DCI .

Mr Wanyonyi allegedly defiled a 15 year old student at his office where he had summoned her for consultations. The teacher then fled after the incident became public and has been evading police arrest, since then.

Mr. Willy Wanyoni of Moi Girls Kamusinga after his arrest for defiling a student at the school
Mr. Willy Wanyoni of Moi Girls Kamusinga after his arrest for defiling a student at the school

This arrest comes as reports indicate increases in cases of girls’ pregnancies. This has forced the education cabinet Secretary, Dr. Amina Mohammed, to order for teenage pregnancies’ analysis for the last three years: 2016, 2017 and 2018 .

Mr. Wanyonyi was expected to be arraigned, in court, today (Wednesday 28th November 2018) and be charged with the offence of defilement.

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2018 KCPE Exams Results Released today; Here are the full details

KCSE candidate arrested for plotting to Kill president Kenyatta and MP Aden Duale

A 2018 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, KCSE, candidate has been arrested after his English paper one on functional skills was based on a heinous plot to kill President Uhuru Kenyatta and Garissa Township Member of Parliament,  Honorable Aden Duale. 

The said student from the Elimu Bora Secondary School in Mandera East was arrested and charged with treason. The Examiners came across the paper while arranging for commencement of marking.

The student was arraigned in a Mandera court on Friday, 30th November 2018, to answers to charges of treason. The magistrate, Duncan Mutai,  ordered that the boy be subjected to a mental assessment at Mandera County Hospital before the case is mentioned. Mutai also ordered an age assessment to be done on the student.

The case will be mentioned tomorrow, Monday (3rd December 2018) where the judge is expected to either deny or give detectives seven days to conclude investigations into the matter.

Marking of the 2018 KCSE examinations is underway across various marking centres in Nairobi with results expected before Christmas.

Elsewhere, the Education cabinet secretary (Dr. Amina Mohammed) is expected to lead the National 2019 form one selection exercise tomorrow. Read more details, here: 2019 form one selection exercise to kick off tomorrow, Monday 3rd December 2018

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Disbursement of Free Day Secondary Education Funds

The Ministry of Education disbursed the second trench of the Free Day Secondary Education Funds second term, 2018. Click on the link below to down the circular from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya.

DISBURSEMENT OF FDSE TERM 2 20180001

2018 KCPE Exams Results Released today; Here are the full details

A total of 4 candidates have had their 2018 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, KCPE, examination results cancelled. This was revealed by the Education Cabinet secretary, Dr. Amina Mohammed, while releasing the 2018 KCPE results at the Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa, today. The results were cancelled due to impersonation related examination irregularities. According to the CS, the candidates will be allowed to resit the KCPE examinations next year, 2019. Dr. Amina said the government has completely eradicated cheating. “We have completely wiped out cases of (exam) leakage. The exam did not leak. These results are pure reflection of the children’s abilities,” the CS said.

The CS, also, said her ministry had stamped out cheating arrangements where some private centres registered perceived ‘brighter’ candidates only. The ‘poor’ candidates were registered in other centres.

In the results released, two candidates garnered top spot with with a total of 453 marks out of a possible 500 marks. Read full details here: Top candidates garner 453 marks as KCPE 2018 exam results are released. The 2 candidates who clinched top spot are: Rawlings Odhiambo (from Kakamega Hills academy) and Olive mwea Wachira (from Riara primary school, in Nairobi); who both scored 453 marks. This was a drop by 2 marks from the marks scored by the top student last year, 2017.  Goldalyn Kakuya of St Anne Junior Lubao in Kakamega County was the top student in last year’s (2017) Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations after she scored 455 out of 500 marks.

Photo- Top student in 2017 KCPE exams, Goldalyn Kakuya, celebrates her triumph.

Dr. Amina announced that a 23 counties had more females who sat for this year’s examination compared to boys. The counties included: Kakamega, Nairobi, Meru, Bungoma, Vihiga, Siaya, Embu, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyamira, Siaya, Kirinyaga, mombasa, Nandi among others.

The CS said that 5 counties recorded the highest numbers of 2018 KCPE candidature with Nairobi topping the list. The counties were: Nairobi with 59,302 candidates, Nakuru (52,910), Kakamega (50,860), Bungoma (48,001) and kiambu with 42,000 registered candidates.

The number of Physically challenged candidates increased 2,495, the highest ever. The highest mark recorded by candidates with special needs was 446 in 2018. The CS alluded this to the interventions put up by the government to promote education of physically challenged learners; including provision of facilities.

In 2018, a total of 8,347 failed to show up for their KCPE examinations being a drop from the 9,726 recorded in 2017.

Table- KCPE exams performance analysis for 2016,2017 and 2018

Large number of contracted professionals.

while releasing the results, the education Secretary stated that a total of 183, 497 contracted personnel manned the 2018 KCPE examination administration exercise. Of this 27,354 were supervisors, 65,107 invigilators, 64,322 security personnel, 918 examination managers (manning the exam containers), 6,791 drivers and about 20,000 centre managers. Dr. Amina defended the high costs incurred in the administration of the tests saying the Ministry had done a cost benefit analysis and found out that the benefits outweigh the costs. “We will not relent. We will not change. We don’t want to leave the exam papers to criminals,” noted Dr. Amina.

Form One Selection Exercise.

The CS indicated that the 2019 form one selection exercise will kick off almost immediately and there shall only be one selection exercise. She said the exercise will be conducted on Monday 3rd December, 2018. The CS said her ministry will implement the president’s directive on 100% transition from primary to secondary adding that no candidate will miss a vacancy in secondary school, next year.

Decried high rates of Teenage Pregnancies

The Education cabinet secretary decried the high levels of teenage pregnancies. She was quick, however, in defending her ministry saying her ministry did well by raising the alarm. She indicated that the vice can only be fought via concerted efforts by all stake holders. Amina reported that the Ministry “carrying out teenage pregnancies analysis for the last three years: 2016, 2017 and 2018.’

The CS, just like the Teachers Service Commission boss (Dr. Nancy Njeri Macharia), blamed parents for letting their children to go out and party. She said she was tired with receiving a multitude of videos showing teenagers in discos, partying, every day. Dr. Amina appealed to parents to take their responsibilities seriously. “Ensure you know where your children are (at all times). Two months is not too long to take care of your child,” the CS lectured the parents. Amina maintained that holiday tuition remains banned. She also warned that there shall be no extra teaching hours (remedials) during school hours noting that releasing kids very late from school exposed them to a myriad of insecurities.

Dr. Amina asked individual candidates to send an SMS with their index numbers to 20076 to receive their results via SMS. School heads will be picking school’s results (nominal rolls) from the sub counties. The result slips for individual candidates shall be available at the Kenya National Examinations Council Website (https://www.knec-portal.ac.ke/kcpe/registration/login.aspx) for head teachers to download for all candidates.

Speaking at the same event, Education Principal Secretary, Dr. Belio Kipsang, urged parents to accept the results for their children. He advised parents not to pile unnecessary pressure on the kids. Dr. Kipsang said the Education ministry will ensure Free Secondary Education Funds and Text books will be in schools by January, 2019, before kids report to school for the new term.

Earlier today President, H.E  received the results from Education CS . The President expressed his satisfaction with the results and reassured that all pupils who sat for the exam will get placement in form one.

A delighted President Uhuru said: “I congratulate all pupils who sat for , parents, guardians, the Ministry of Education and stakeholders who ensured a credible process. I am delighted that over 70% of these pupils got 200 marks and above. I want to reassure that all the pupils will get placement in form one.”

The pesident, who was in Mombasa today, delivered on his promise of a school bus to Jilore High School, .  He officially handed over the school bus to the school’s Deputy Principal, Ms. Rachel Fikirini, who was accompanied by her students at State House.

32 teachers expelled by the TSC this year for indulging in sex with students as 3 get special recognition.

Top candidates in 2018 KCPE exams score 453 marks as girls beat boys in Languages

2018 KCSE exams Cheating case reported at Nduru Boys in Kisii County as police arrest 19 people

Kisii county is on the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons. Days after 17 people were arrested at Monianku secondary school for suspected cheating during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Sevondary, KCSE, exams, today it was Nduru boys that hit the headlines. This was after police arrested about 19 people for examination related malpractices.

Those arrested included 14 students who were found with foreign materials, immediately after the History exam, and the 5 invigilators manning the rooms.

It was reported by No 112666 PC Aden Kara who guarding Nduru boys examination centre that he saw candidates with materials inside the examination room. He reported to Thomas Owinyi a KNEC monitoring officer who was at the centre. The report was passed on to the Sub-county security team who proceeded to the centre and waited for the history paper one to end. They frisked the students and managed to recover a lot of materials and arrested the following candidates:

  • Nyakundi Fidel Mose,
  • Victor Obare Morara,
  • Onderi Owen Kiriago,
  • Oyaro Elizaphan Omworo,
  • Mauti Nyankieya Enock,
  • Dennis Obara Nyayiemi
  • Felix Mosonga Obara,
  • Arori Wycliffe Obara,
  • Kennedy Mayomi Kenyanya,
  • Joash Jacob Juma,
  • Amos Saitoti Meteikini,
  • Brian Tongi Oichara,
  • Samwel Nzembe Kenyanya and
  • Brian Mayaka Manyara.

Also arrested are the invigilators of the affected examination rooms namely;Tom Osoro Reuben, Daniel Okiagera, Evans Arumba Obare, Nyaundi Dennis Ogake and Mongare Nyandega Peter.

They are all held in custody and will appear before court on 20/11/18, tomorrow.

This happened even as the Teachers Service Commission boss, Dr. Nancy Njeri Macharia, said that 26 teachers were facing disciplinary action for abetting cheating during the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, KCPE, exams this year, 2018.

2018 KCPE Exams Results Released today; Here are the full details

32 teachers expelled by the TSC this year for indulging in sex with students as 3 get special recognition.

Full presser: Education Minister, Dr. Amina, Gives details of cases of malpractices at Kakamega, Monianku and other places

Ambira principal identifies boys who abused Matiang’i, Amina as Online platforms are awash with disturbing images and videos of the 2018 KCPE, KCSE candidates after exams

Online platforms have been flooded with disturbing images and videos of supposedly the 2018 Kenya certificate of Primary Education, KCPE, and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, KCSE, candidates in celebratory mood after sitting for their final papers. The images and videos that have been circulating in online platforms are indeed worrying, considering the choice of words and messages carried in them.

The Ambira boys video, that went viral yesterday, has attracted the wrath of the police who allegedly moved to the school today to carry out further investigations. In the video, the boys hurl unprintable words to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr. Amina Mohammed, and her Interior Counterpart, Dr. Fred Matiang’i. The boys who sound incensed by the Ministry of Education’s tough regulations on the administration of the 2018  KCSE exams tease the two ministers that they cheated in the examinations.

Meanwhile Ambira boys principal, Mr. Thomas Odhiambo Kogola, has, today (Friday 23rd November 2018, recorded a statement with the Siaya police. The principal says he saw a clip on the social media where by students were using vulgar languages against CS Education Ambassador Dr. Amina Mohamed and CS Interior Dr. Fred Matiang’i.

They further alleged that they cheated in the ongoing examinations, Siaya County Education team, subcounty education officials. It was established that about 150 form 4 candidates most of them who had finished their arts examinations assembled at the waste dumping side close to the fence behind the classes.

They lit fire christened ‘Academic Fire burning waste papers’, dancing and using vulgar language against CS Education, Amina Mohamed, and Interior CS, Dr. Fred Matiang’i. The Principal was able to identify the students, among the ones who participated in the incident, as follows:
1. Opiyo Brantley Owino form 4B,
2. Hongo Steven form 4Y,
3. Barry Oduor Odhiambo form 4W,
4. Odhiambo Ralph Lauren form 4Y,
5. Omondi Joshua Otieno form 4Y,
6. Edwin Omondi form 4B,
7. Clinton Oduor Onyango form 4G and
8. Lavin Jude Ombago.

Further it is confirmed that there was no examinations cheating reported during the period in the school. Incident under investigations and a progress report to follow.

See the disturbing images and videos of the KCPE and KCSE candidates, trending online for all the wrong reasons.

Photos- Nasty and worrying things done by candidates immediately after their final exams

Below- Videos of the 2018 candidates in ecstatic mood after dispensing with their exams. 

These latest developments come after Dr. Amina castigated parents for neglecting their parenting responsibilities. Below is part of the statement by Dr. Amina Mohammed, during the release of this year’s KCPE examination results on Monday 19th November 2018;

“Over the three days of KCPE , the country woke up to the reality that the rate of
teenage pregnancies in the country is puzzlingly high. Initial reports suggested that only
about 9 cases of births involving candidates took place during the three days of KCPE.
To understand the depth of this national crisis, I ordered the Quality Assurance and
Standards Directorate in the Ministry to work with relevant departments and give me a
report for further action. Although the team has yet to finalise its report, preliminary
statistics show that the magnitude of the problem is far bigger than we had initially
thought. We are staring a national challenge in the face. I have directed the team to
expand the scope of their analysis to complete the survey in all the primary and
secondary schools in the country across a three year period (2016-2018).

I wish to caution the country that the problem of under-age pregnancies must not be
viewed as a burden of the Ministry of Education alone. We broke the silence. It is a
multi-sectoral challenge that calls for concerted efforts across a broad spectrum of
players for it to be stemmed. The law is clear on defilement. And no one is above the
law.

We are dealing with a complex issue and will work with all relevant government agencies
to effect the urgent changes required. The Teachers Service Commission has taken firm
and decisive action against teachers found culpable of defiling learners.
There is also a standing Ministerial team finalizing standard operating procedures to be
rolled out in schools to increase safety and security. We must and will make schools safe
and secure zones for every child in this country.

In addition, I call on parents, guardians and members of the community to play their
role in inculcating good behavior and protecting children. We must reject the
individualism of child responsibility and honour the wisdom of our ancestors that it takes
a village to raise a child. We all have a responsibility to protect these children.”

A lot needs to be done to salvage the young generation.

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2018 KCPE Exams Results Released today; Here are the full details

 

10 BOM teachers arrested, 101 mobile phones confiscated and 110 other people nabbed as the 2018 KCSE Exams come to a close

In Summary:

  • Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Amina Mohammed, praises administration of this year’s KCSE exams saying it is the most credible in Kenya’s history.
  • Services of 10 principals terminated for carrying exams in private cars.
  • Examination malpractices reported at two centres of the 222 put under high surveilance.
  • 10 BOM teachers arrested for exam related malpractices
  • 101 mobile phones confiscated for being used to promote cheating
  • 4 candidates deregistered for impersonation.

The Month long 2018 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, KCSE, Examinations came to a close today as candidates wrote their final Technical subjects’ papers. The Education Ministry’s Cabinet Secretary (CS),  Dr. Amina Mohammed, has hailed the administration of this year’s examination saying it is the most credible in Kenya’s history.

“The Country (has) witnessed the most credible KCSE (exams) in the examination’s 29 year history,” said Dr. Amina in a summative presser on the administration of this year’s KCSE exams. The CS says that she has received numerous requests from other countries for them to come to Kenya to benchmark on the administration process of National Examinations.

Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. amina Mohammed, Prayed with the candidates of Ngara Girls High School this morning and wished them well in their post-Secondary endeavours.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. amina Mohammed, Prayed with the candidates of Ngara Girls High School this morning and wished them well in their post-Secondary endeavours.

“In fact, already ( have received) several requests for bench marking because very much like us, they wish to guarantee the credibility of their matriculation process,” Dr. Amina said.

The Cabinet Secretary has alluded that the success in administration of this year’s National examinations is due to collaboration between the various government agencies. “I wish to acknowledge and most sincerely thank this top notch team of professionals including: Basic Education PS (Dr. Belio Kipsang), Prof. George Magoha (KNEC Chairman), Dr. Nancy Macharia (TSC Chief Executive Officer) and Dr. Mercy Karogo (KNEC Acting Chief Executive Officer) for executing one of the most robust examination monitoring exercises ever undertaken not only in our country but on our continent if not the world,” the Education CS added.

The Cabinet Secretary, also, had kind words to candidates who prepared well and brought determination, enthusiasm and foresight to the examination halls. “Am proud to be associated with these great young men and women who have proved ready to take on and surmount the challenges of the future and make their contribution to our national journey,” Dr. Amina uttered.

Faced with some Mishaps

The smooth  administration of the 2018 KCSE examinations was marred with a few setbacks, though. Despite being hailed as the most credible, some cases of examination malpractices were reported.

Cheating cases reported.

Out of the 220 schools put under high surveillance, two centres attempted examination cheating and the suspects were arrested and presented to court. “In the 222 schools that were put under high surveillance based on previous history of examination malpractices, examinations went on unhindered in 220 of these centres. Minimal malpractices were detected in two of the centres, with the alert monitors taking remedial action that prevented any full blown collusion or examination contamination at the centres,” the CS reported.

Services of 10 principals ex continued

Elsewhere, ten principals, centre managers, were ex-continued for carrying examination materials in private vehicles. “Officials in charge of 10 (ten) centres were relieved of their various duties as centre managers for allowing the transportation of examination materials in private vehicles contrary to the requirement that only government transportation be used for the purpose,” the CS says in the presser. In other schools, some principals were replaced as examination centres for allowing unauthorized persons into the school compound during the examination period. The ministry had earlier banned execution of any major activities and visitations to schools by parents or guardians in term three.

Over 120 arrested for attempted cheating

The summative report by the Cabinet secretary indicates that ‘a total of 110 people, including candidates, who attempted cheating during the examinations were arrested owing to the watchful eyes of security-men, monitors and other examination officials’. Also arrested were 10 Board of Management, BOM, teachers in four schools in connection to various cases of examination malpractices. These teachers have been arraigned in court and charged. Four students were at the same time deregistered for impersonation.

Despite the ministry banning the use of mobile phones within the examination centres, by unauthorized individuals, a total of 110 cell phones were confiscated at various centres as the exams were on. These electronic gadgets were confiscated from teachers, candidates and school staff. The phones are being analyzed to see if they aided in examination cheating via relaying information into the examination rooms.

The 664,550 candidates will be waiting with abated breadth as the examiners start marking their papers next week across various centres in Nairobi. The results for these examinations are expected before Christmas, this year (2018).

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