The Ministry of Education has ordered all schools to buy rice from the Kenya National Trading Corporation, KNTC. This is in line with a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta on 14th January, 2020. In the directive the President ordered that the Kenya National Trading Corporation should purchase all the excess rice from Kano Plains and Mwea for onward selling to Disciplined forces, Prisons Services and public schools.
Via a circular dated 8 October, 2020, Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang says all schools should comply with the Government policy of Buy Kenya Build Kenya as provided for in Section 155 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015.
“In fulfillment of this Policy, it is brought to your attention that all public primary and secondary boarding schools are advised to comply with the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya as provided by Law by purchasing their rice for consumption from the Kenya National Trading Corporation,” says Dr. Kipsang.
Schools are set to reopen next week; after a long closure as a result of the outbreak of covid19 in the country. Most schools had to dispose their food stuffs to avert loses.
Kipsang says the quality of the rice is fit for consumption by learners.
“The Kenya National Trading Corporation has given its assurances that rice is available to Government procuring entities from KNTC Depots in Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Wote, Meru, Nakuru, Kitale and Karatina. Additionally, the Corporation is able to service several institutional orders as other orders are being processed.” He assures.
The price per a 50kg bag ranges between Sh5,200 to Sh8,250; depending on its quality.
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 Uhuru Kenyatta, received the KCPE 2018 results from Education CS AMB_A_Mohammed (See Photo below). 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 KCPE 2018, 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, Malindi. 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.
A secondary school principal is in trouble after Makueni Senator, Hon. Mutula Kilonzo Junior, launched a complaint against her to the Ministry of Education. Mwaani Secondary school principal, Mrs. Joan Muchina, is finding herself on the wrong side of the law for allegedly mistreating a form four candidate at the school. The girl whose father, who is now dead, used to work at the school spent most of the third term at home due to fees related problems; even after well wishers raised a huge some of the fee balance that was paid to the school.
In a memo dated 13th November, 2018, the Senator outlines full details on alleged misconduct by the principal and why he wants action taken against the principal. Here is an excerpt from the letter sent to the Education Ministry’s Principal Secretary, PS, Dr. Belio Kipsang;
“I refer to a story that has been circulating in social media on the unfair treatment of a form four candidate, Brigitta Wayua Sammy, in the said school (Mwaani Girls’ Secondary school) by the principal.
It is alleged that the girl’s father had been employed as a security officer in Mwaani Girls’ Secondary School since 2012. His two daughters were schooling in this school, on an arrangement on settling school fees. His elder daughter, Justina, completed her studies and is now a fourth year (student) at Maseno university. His second daughter, Brigitta who is currently sitting for her KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations), has not had an easy time in school for the whole of this year (2018) after his father lost his job in the school. (She, Brigitta, is herein after referred to as the student).
Brigitta’s school life changed drastically when the new principal, Mrs. Joan Muchina, was transferred to Mwaani Girls’ Secondary School. She dismissed her father a week after her arrival without paying his terminal dues. In the same week, the girl was sent home for school fees. She was home for three (3) months before her sister highlighted the case in a face book post in May 2018. A whatsApp group was formed which we (used to) raise around Ninety thousand shillings (Kshs. 90,000). Her balance was around one hundred and seventy thousand (Kshs. 170,000).
The Principal allowed the girl in school for only a few weeks but sent her home again shortly, thereafter.
On or about September 2018, Justina (Her elder sister) paid seven thousand and five hundred shillings (Kshs. 7,500) being her third term fees, using her HELB (Higher Educations Loans board) loan but the principal still sent her home at around 6.30 pm. She walked for over twenty kilometers (20km) to her home at west Ngoini, Muvau ward. By God’s grace she arrived safely at midnight.
Unfortunately, her father died on 16th October 2018 while undergoing treatment at Kikima, Mbooni Sub County Hospital. The school ignored the matter even when he was a parent of one of their students and a former member of staff.
The mother of the student pleaded with the principal to allow her back to school to no avail. Instead, she hauled insults to her in front of her daughter. The student spent her third term at home until a week to the commencement of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination when her class teacher called to inform her to go to school for her exam.
The principal has called and texted Justina severally threatening to deal with her, if she keeps on exposing the ill treatment of her younger sister. She has sent Justina’s neighbour to inform her that she will sue her for defamation. she has also threatened to write a story about her father’s death, which she alleges was suicide (due to suicide).
Justina has already lodged a formal complaint with the County Director of Education, Makueni County.”
Senator Mutula Kilonzo junior,Makueni County.
Senator Mutula, who is also the Senate Minority Whip, now requests Dr. Belio Kipsang to investigate the matter.
Data for some form ones on the National Education Management Information System, Nemis, has been erased by mistake. This is after a technical hitch was experienced at the portal that stores all primary school and secondary school learners’ information, in Kenya. The erasure does not only affect the 2020 form ones but also new comers in some schools.
“We had registered over 200 students on the system. But, the system shows that we now have zero form ones. Uploading data into this system was a herculean task. We had to trans night so as to beat set deadlines,” says a teacher whose school’s Nemis data had been deleted.
The ministry officials had promised to sort out the mess by Monday.
Screenshot showing that Nemis data for this school is missing; for their form ones.
The government uses the crucial data on Nemis to disburse fees capitation for learners in all public schools. The data is also used for the medical insurance scheme for learners that is provided by the National Hospital Insurance Fund, NHIF. Further, details on Nemis are used to identify participants during co-curricular activities championships.
It is a mandatory requirement that all learners be captured on Nemis. But, in some cases the process of enlisting the learners has been hampered by lack of birth certificates for some of them. Those seeking transfers away from their current schools must get approval through a process that encompasses use of the system.
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