Kipsang Orders Immediate Reinstatement of Matiang’i’s Tough School Regulations
The Ministry of Education has reimposed strict regulations on school activities for the third term, following a directive issued on Tuesday, September 3.
In a circular signed by Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang, all regional, county, and sub-county directors of education have been instructed to enforce the ban on several school activities that were originally introduced in January 2021.
The directive, which echoes the tough stance taken by former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in May 2016, prohibits activities such as prayer days, visits, half-term breaks, sports events, prize-giving ceremonies, and annual general meetings.
These measures aim to minimize interactions between students and outsiders, a step the ministry deems necessary to maintain the integrity of national examinations.
“The ban on the indicated activities remains in force. It is crucial that all relevant individuals and organisations adhere to this directive,” emphasized PS Kipsang in the circular.
The ministry’s renewed focus on these rules highlights a persistent concern about the potential for cheating during the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
The Matiang’i-era rules were initially introduced to curtail cheating by reducing opportunities for candidates to exchange materials or receive unauthorized assistance during events such as prayer days.
The decision to reinstate these rules immediately after schools reopened for the third term underscores the ministry’s commitment to maintaining strict examination standards.
The reintroduction of these regulations has sparked varied reactions among stakeholders in the education sector. While some see the measures as essential for upholding the credibility of the national exams, others argue that they impose undue restrictions on students and their families, particularly regarding the ban on half-term breaks and prayer days, which are traditionally seen as important for students’ emotional and psychological well-being.
Nonetheless, the Education Ministry remains firm in its stance, with PS Kipsang reiterating the need for strict adherence to the rules to ensure a smooth and fair examination process.
As schools across the country settle into the third term, all eyes will be on how these measures impact the overall conduct and outcomes of the 2024 national exams.
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Kipsang Orders Immediate Reinstatement of Matiang’i’s Tough School Regulations
