Why Gov't Has Banned Mock Exams in Public Schools

Cluster mock tests undertaken by both public primary and secondary schools ahead of national examinations have been banned.

The Ministry of Education addressed a circular signed by Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to county and sub-county education directors to enforce the directive.

"The purpose of this circular is to ask you to bring this to the attention of all schools within your jurisdiction and take corrective measures to stop any occurrence," partly read the directive.

Scrapping joint inter-school assessments are among the recommendations by the Parliamentary Committee on Education and the task force that was charged with probing the unrest in schools characterised by arson attacks allegedly perpetrated by learners.

Besides the unrest, the education docket observed that the mock examinations interfere with the academic calendar.

"All schools are advised to desist from holding any inter-school examinations as this will interfere with the school calendar," said Kipsang.

This adds to other directives issued to schools in the recent past.

In June this year, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu directed primary and secondary school heads to ensure teaching in their respective institutions is done for only six hours on weekdays.

In a communique issued on June 16, Machogu asked the school head to ensure teaching starts at 8.00 am and ends at 3.45 pm to allow students to study freely.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Mr. Ezekiel Machogu has asked head teachers of primary and secondary education to ensure teaching starts at 8.00 am and ends at 3.45 pm on weekdays.

“The Ministry provides for a maximum of 6 hours teaching, noting that education of learners should be natural and not forced,” read the statement in part.

Machogu stressed the need for schools to adhere to the recommended hours to allow students to manage learning and engage in extra curriculum activities.

"This allows learners to manage their own learning and engage in Physical education activities,” the statement added.

The CS gave an example of Finland, which has a 3-hour teaching regime and is reputed to have a world-class education system.

Machogu gave the directive during a meeting with the officials of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) at his office at Jogoo House, Nairobi.