Parents want KCPE scrapped

Exam materials at Mbaraki police station on December 3, 2012 ahead of the start of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Kenya National Association of Parents secretary general Musau Ndunda said KCPE had failed to meet its original objective of assessing the competence of candidates

By PETER OBUYA
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An organisation representing parents has threatened to go to court if the government fails to abolish the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination in the next 21 days.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Monday, Kenya National Association of Parents secretary general Musau Ndunda said KCPE had failed to meet its original objective of assessing the competence of candidates and helping the government come up with ways to assist early
 development of children. He called for the introduction of continuous assessment tests instead.

“It has now turned out to be an elimination examination that focuses only on the brighter candidates with a majority who perform dismally being subjected to frustration,” Mr Ndunda said.

“We are giving the government 21 days to scrap KCPE examinations, failure to which we shall be moving to court,” he added.

AGAINST SCHOOL FEES

The Association had moved to court on January 20 in an attempt to prevent primary and secondary schools from charging fees, terming it unconstitutional. (READ: Govt sued for charging school fees)

"The new constitution provides for free basic education... there is nothing like payments to be made, the education act makes it criminal for schools to ask for levies," Mr Ndunda, said at the time.

The government was given two weeks to respond.