The early pregnancies menace has once reared its ugly head depicting grim picture of the societal moral breakdown facing the country after it emerged at least 124 expectant girls from Kajiado County alone will sit for this year’s national exams beginning tomorrow.
Ten heavily pregnant girls will be sitting for Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams, while 28 and 86 others will be sitting for their Kenya Certificate for Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE) respectively.
More than 1.3 million first batch of Grade Six learners nationwide will be sitting for KPSEA exams starting today. KCPE candidates will also be sitting for their first paper tomorrow.
The shocking revelation was laid bare by the Kajiado Acting County Commissioner Harun Kamau during the county’s examination preparedness brief.
“It’s so unfortunate these girls will have to sit for their exam expectant. Some of them are heavily pregnant and we are hopeful they will be able to write their exams. We will ensure they will be closely monitored and those who might give birth during exams assisted,” said County Commissioner.
Kajiado County is among the profiled counties grappling with Female Gentle Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages menace.
On the other hand, Kajiado County Education Director Kosgey Kipruto said they have put in palce all necessary preparations to ensure smooth examination process by all candidates.
In Kajiado county 26,865 Grade Six learners will be sitting for their KPSEA exams in 931 centres while 25,028 KCPE candidates will be writing their exams in 678 exam centres.
Each exam center will be manned by two armed police officers to ensure no hitch during the exams period.
However, he said the Ministry is struggling to ensure students out of school from the drought hit areas will be able to sit for exams and food provided during the period.
“We do not have mobile exam centers for students who have relocated with their parents in search of pasture for their livestock. We are reaching out to various education stakeholders to liaise with the families to bring back candidates to sit for exams.” Kosgey added.
