By P, KNA
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Siaya branch is calling on the government to ensure that only forthright officials will be deployed to supervise the forthcoming national examinations countrywide.
Addressing a press conference in Siaya town Friday, KUPPET officials led by the branch Executive Secretary, Sam Opondo and Chairman, Robert Ouko alleged that last year, some overzealous supervisors assigned to Siaya county sexually harassed and intimidated students and school managers.
Opondo said the officers engaged in excessive searches including touching the students indecently, while using filth language.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour this time,” warned Opondo, adding that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) must ensure that only straight forward individuals are assigned duties as both invigilators, supervisors and external monitors.
“We witnessed disturbing scenes last year, where candidates were treated inhumanely by external monitors,” he lamented, saying such conduct not only violates the rights of the students, but also disrupts their concentration and performance.
On his part, the branch KUPPET chairman Robert Ouko extended his best wishes to all candidates preparing for their final examinations and urged education officials to ensure the exams are conducted with integrity and fairness.
Addressing the occasion, the chairman of the Junior Secondary school teachers’ welfare association, Simon Otieno appealed to the Ministry of Education to expedite the process of granting autonomy to Junior Secondary Schools, noting that the delay continues to hinder effective administration of the sector.