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ODM MP differs with Raila on exam dates

By OUMA WANZALA September 18th, 2017 2 min read

ODM nominated MP Wilson Sossion has differed with his party leader Raila Odinga over calls to postpone the upcoming national examinations.

Speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) during briefing on national examinations set for October and November, Mr Sossion warned against politicization of the programme.

“For any nation, children come first. The dates as set out and as outlined should not be altered for whatsoever reason,” said Mr Sossion.

He noted that the national examinations were critical for Kenyan children and they have prepared for the exams.

“Whether there are changes on the elections dates, we will stand to defend the exams calendar. The two events are independent. That is where we are and that is our position,” said Mr Sossion who also Kenya national union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General.

ALLOW MORE TIME

Mr Odinga early this month called for the postponement for two weeks of national examinations to allow more time for the repeat presidential election. IEBC has scheduled it for October 17, although the body has until November 9.

According to the timetables already sent out to schools, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination will begin on October 31 and end on November 2 while KCSE theory papers will start on November 6 and end on November 29.

According to the opposition coalition’s presidential flagbearer, there is nothing wrong in adjusting the exam timetable to enable “an important national exercise like an election” to be conducted. He said “students will not die) if the exam dates were pushed forward.

GO AS PLANNED

Speaking at the same event, Education cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i maintained thet the examinations would go on as planned.

“We like dealing in a formal way, the Independent Electoral and boundaries Commission (IEBC) has not communicated to us of any date change regarding the elections. If they decide to change the date, then we will come back to the public, but what I can assure you is that the examination calendar will not change,” said Dr Matiang’i.

He said the government was ready to provide adequate security to ensure that the more than 1.6 candidates do their examinations under a condusive environment.