One hundred and twenty-four pregnant girls from Kajiado County, Kenya, are set to sit for this year’s national exams, which begin on Monday.
According to data published by Kajiado Acting County Commissioner Harun Kamau, 10 expectant girls will take Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations, 28 girls will take the KCPE exams, and 86 girls will take the KCSE exams.
“It’s so unfortunate these girls will have to sit for their exam expectant. Some of them are heavily pregnant and we are hopeful they will be able to write their exams. We will ensure they will be closely monitored and those who might give birth during exams assisted, “County Commissioner stated
More than 1.3 million first-year Grade Six students will appear for KPSEA exams beginning today. Candidates for the KCPE will also take their first paper tomorrow.
Kajiado County is one of the counties dealing with the terrible consequences of an impending drought caused by failing rains for more than a year.
The enormous county’s education stakeholders have been scanning the far-flung villages and urban hubs for applicants who have recently dropped out of school. Some community retrogressive customs, such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriage, are thought to have forced most females into unintended pregnancy. Some were married off to arranged marriages.
The County Commissioner stated that the local authority is working with other education stakeholders to ensure that the expected candidates take the tests. He went on to say that the local administration had already reached out to the students’ families to allow them to appear for examinations.
“We have reached out to their respective families and explained to them the need for their daughters to sit for exams. They ought not to be condemned but to be supported. So far, we have no objection from the families contacted,” he stated.
Kajiado County Education Director Kosgey Kipruto stated the county’s systems are ready for the national exams, adding that staff deployment and transportation difficulties have been resolved. To guarantee that the tests run smoothly, each exam location will be staffed by two armed police officers.
However, he stated that the ministry is working hard to ensure that kids who are absent from school due to the drought will be able to sit for exams and that food will be provided during the period.
In Kajiado County, 26,865 Grade Six students will take their KPSEA examinations in 931 exam centres, while 25,028 KCPE applicants will take their exams in 678 exam centres.
