Exams to be set according to syllabus covered, no virtual university graduations

National exams will be set according to the syllabus covered, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) said on Thursday.

According to KICD Deputy Director Olive Mbuthia, parents and candidates should not worry about end of year exams but instead focus on learning according to their environment.

“Teachers have been encouraged to cover for the lost time when schools reopen,”she said.

She defended the government’s move not to postpone KCPE and KCSE exams even as schools remain shut at least until June this year.

The KICD boss said the Government is seeking a solution following complaints from parents whose children can not access virtual learning.

Over 15 million learners have remained at home since mid-March after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that all learning institutions be closed following the outbreak of coronavirus.

On his part, Education CAS Zack Kinuthia said private schools have no control over setting of exams.

He reiterated that Government will ensure learners will recover lost time by reducing the August holiday period.

The CAS further urged parents to ensure pupils remain at home to avoid contracting coronavirus.

On university education, CAS Kinuthia said: “There is nothing like virtual exams or graduation. Universities should come up with ways of ensuring students learn virtually but interrupted graduations should be deferred for now.”

His statement deals a blow to plans by the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology to hold a virtual graduation ceremony for its students in two weeks.

The Daily Nation had reported that the university would have become the first Kenyan institution of higher learning to do so.

“The students requested for the graduation ceremony because they wanted their certificates so that they can move on with their lives,” Vice Chancellor Prof Ndirangu Kioni said as quoted by the daily.

Report by Muhia Maina