Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) secretary general Wilson Sossion now says both Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations to be put off to next year following covid-19 pandemic that prompted schools to be shut down in mid March 2020.
While addressing the press at the Kenya Human Rights Commission offices in Lavington on Wednesday, mr. Sossion said that government should give priority to flattening of covid-19 curve before thinking of reopening schools.
He further noted that its better to have children home safe and sound rather than sending them to schools in the light of surging cases of Covid-19.
“We would rather have all our children staying at home, safe and alive and repeating a year rather than sending them to school to die. The world will not come to an end if we suspend certain matters,” said Sossion.
Mr. Sossion who is also ODM nominated MP said that postponing of national examinations will give ample time fo coverage of syllabus before candidates to sit for these exams.
The vocal unionist further cautioned that lives of teachers and learners should not be put on line, on the pretext of national exams.
“The national exams, KCPE and KCSE, are not a ticket to heaven. They can be postponed to suitable time when the syllabus shall have been covered and when the curve shall have been flattened,”
“Nobody in this country should gamble with the lives of learners and teachers. For now, open bars and test social distancing. KCPE and KCSE are not a ticket to heaven,” stated mr. Sossion.
Sossion’s sentiment comes barely a day after ODM party leader Raila Odinga threw in his two cent advice on opening of schools. Mr. Odinga noted that schools should not reopened on the basis of national exams.
“I don’t support that schools should be reopened just because of exams, between exams and life what is more important?
“Schools can be opened after one year and the current classes be rewound, what’s the rush for? Where are they planning to take those candidates?” asked Odinga.