School Exams KCSE KCPE

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School exams KCSE / KCPE

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Short rains (October / November)
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

Every year at the end of October, Kenyan secondary schools close, so as not to disturb the senior students, who are taking the Kenya Certificate of Education (KCSE) exams. Tough national examinations they are -- test papers are written and transported in total secrecy (with occasional lapses, which become national front-page news and are major dramas for those affected). Exam classes are strictly invigilated by teachers from other schools.

Candidates are normally 18 to 20 years old. They take three compulsory subjects, English, Swahili and Mathematics, as well as around four others, chosen by them. Science papers include laboratory experiments, and it is justifiably a constant topic of argument whether this does not put the up-country or urban slum schools at a disadvantage.

Once the KCSE is over, the country immediately switches to the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education), taking place in the first half of November. Numbers of students participating have risen hugely, since the government introduced free primary education a couple of years ago, encouraging even adults to return to school. The KCPE takes only three days; the younger classes resume as soon as the exams are over. Subjects taken by the mostly 14 to 16-year-olds are English, Swahili, Mathematics, Insha (Swahili composition), Science, CRE (Christian Religious Education or its Muslim or Hindu equivalents), and a mix of history, geography, civics, environmental studies, etc.

Given the numbers involved (see details below), this double exercise is a major logistic success story and shows the priority which all post-Independence Kenyan governments have attached to education.

The exams are tremendously important to students and parents, as the marks obtained will determine whether a candidate may pass to the next higher level of learning. This photo shows the KCPE candidates from All Saints' Cathedral Primary School, Nairobi, being prayed for on 6 November 2005, one day before the KCPE started :



Text and photo (c) Isabelle Prondzynski

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The East African Standard (Nairobi)

November 6, 2005

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination gets underway tomorrow. Over 670,000 candidates will sit for the exams in some 18,000 centres countrywide. This morning, the candidates will be taken through a rehearsal session by the supervisors and invigilators.

Tomorrow, the candidates begin with Mathematics, English Language and Composition papers. On Wednesday, they will do Science, Kiswahili Language and Kiswahili Insha. On the last day, they will sit for Geography, History, Civics and Religious Education. The Kenya National Examinations Council secretary, Mr Paul Wasanga, cautioned examination officials against abetting cheating.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200511071132.html

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http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/Newins081105.jpg

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Prisoners and the elderly sit KCPE exams
Story by NATION Team

Publication Date: 9 November 2005

Millicent Jemtai could not be detered by her illness, as she tackles her Mathematics Paper of this year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at Eldoret Hospital yesterday.
Photo by Jared Nyataya.


http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/Newsinsa91105.jpg

Death row inmates were among hundreds of thousands of candidates who started their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams countrywide yesterday.Ninety four adult education learners, most of old men and women, expressed optimism that they would pass as they started their exams at Nairobi's St Peter's Claver Primary School.

Mrs Dina Masila, 50, a surbodinate staff at the ministry of Health headquarters said: "I want to study up to the university and become a counsellor." Her daughter is also a candidate.


http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/Newsinsb091105.jpg

At Lang'ata Women's Prison, two death row convicts were among nine candidates who sat for the exam at the centre. Three of their colleagues who had registered did not turn up because they were released in August. Only one of them turned up. The acting officer in charge, Mrs Elizabeth Olaba, said the convicts were encouraged to sit their exams by the Government's commitment to abolish the death sentence.

And 30 inmates, 21 of them on death row, are sitting the exams at Naivasha Maximum Prison. Acting officer in charge of the Prison James Mwalo Kodieny said eight inmates who had registered for the exam had completed their jail terms. John Mwangi, 26, a death row inmate, said he was hopeful that the Government would commute his sentence.

Papers arrived early in most schools except in Nyatike division where most roads had been rendered impassable by heavy rains currently pounding the region. Heavy rains also pounded Narok District as 5,739 candidates started the exams. The papers were dispatched to the 246 centres on Monday to avoid vehicles getting stuck while delivering the papers.

Reported by Cyrus Kinyungu, Angwenyi Gichana, Elisha Otieno, Ben Amadala, John Ochieng, Macharia Mwangi, Muchiri Gitonga, Joseph Kimani, Sollo Kiragu, Geoffrey Rono and Dennis Odunga

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=61093

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

Success Cards

As the Kenya Certificate for Primary Education(KCPE) and Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education(KCSE) approach, vendors start to sell success cards. Muthurwa Hawkers Market has now joined in, together with many other shops and markets.

Success cards have always been a big thing for any primary and secondary school candidate in Kenya. But apart from the encouraging messages they carry, success cards have been used for many other hidden agendas.

They are many different types for different recipients depending with the relationship between the sender and the recipient. There are those that have pictures of animal, nature and prominent people. Then there are those that are designed for lovers with two people cuddling or kissing. Those with sweet melodies and others with lighting words. The messages in them also vary but the central idea has always been to encourage candidates, give them hope and the much needed confidence during their exams.

In schools, pupils and students compete to see who receives many success cards before and during the exam period. There is nothing better to make your morning during an exam period than having your name called to collect a success card during assembly time. The competition gets tough and some students buy success cards and pretend that it is someone else who has sent them the cards, just to remain on top.

Then there are those senders who go an extra mile. Some put sugar particles in your success card to show their love, others enclose a love letter while others add money or gifts to accompany success cards.

It is also a time for embarrasement for those who repeat classes without informing their well wishers or who lie to their friends and relatives about their class levels. When a standard seven pupil, or form two or three student is called to pick up his or her success card, they remain the laughing stalk for the rest of the exam period.

Caleb Mutua



. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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HAIKU

invigilator
praying for the children --
pens scratch paper

this school uniform --
stained and torn and worn
one more time

Isabelle Prondzynski

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mother a wreck
nervous child shivers
with exam fever.

for mere marks
wasting hours
no learning life skills

shoma
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/happyhaiku/message/2351

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KCPE results
Wambui joins Moi Girls
Erick Starehe Boys

-- Patrick Wafula

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clipboards in hand-
KCSE candidates listen
to their supervisors

the shuffle of papers
the only sound in the room-
KCSE exams

Patrick Wafula, October 2006


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................................... Exam Haiku

Students in numbers
Despite repeated warnings
Leave their cell phones on

http://www.salocin.com/weblog/archives/000161.html

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The exam questions
A cat chases butterflies
never catching one

The exam finished
trying to go home I walk
up to a dead end

http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/~shiki/shiki.archive/html/9603/0118.html

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Related words

***** Exam results (kigo for the hot dry season)

KCPE results are published in January of the following year, leading to a frantic period of activity for secondary schools, as they analyse the results and set the cut-off mark. Students may apply for one school in each of three categories -- national schools (subsidised by the State and taking in the brightest and best of the youth), provincial schools (good secondary schools located within each of the provinces), and local schools. Even to get into a local school is a success, as only about half the KCPE examinees are offered secondary school places at all.

The results of the KCSE are published later. Students have to wait at least from November to September of the following year for their first chance to get into university. University places too are severely limited and highly desirable -- private universities are now springing up, and for students with access to funds or to sponsors, they are a welcome alternative. The children of wealthy families may also look abroad for third-level opportunities.

Isabelle Prondzynski

Read more here :
http://www.vk.co.ke/?no=2532&mk=comment

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Some sponsors have set up private secondary schools, which take in students who did not manage to obtain a place in one of the public schools. One of my favourite private secondary schools is Bahati Community Centre, situated in the slum of Kayole and founded by a small group of young students from Kayole (Nairobi) itself, who felt they had been lucky to get into secondary education, and wanted to share their good fortune with those young people who had not managed (either for lack of points, or for lack of funds to pay school fees).

Bahati is very largely run on a voluntary basis, but students pay a small fee so that teachers can work full-time. The school has no building (it rents an unfinished house), no electricity, no window panes, no water, but a pit latrine and a group of dedicated young teachers and hard-working students.

Read some of their stories here, and see the picture of the very first group of KCSE candidates (who had to sit the exam in a different school, as they were not yet recognised as an exam centre) :
http://www.bahatia.blogspot.com/



Text and photo (c) Isabelle Prondzynski


BCC's First Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Candidates (KCSE) 2005.
The first BCC Secondary School K.C.S.E (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) candidates : This year, BCC Secondary School is among the Secondary Schools in Kenya that are hosting the Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Examination candidates. The exam commenced on 21st October and will end on 15th November.
To BCC, this is an auspicious and historical moment because these are the first such candidates since its inception 4 years ago. The 23 candidates are among the 260,000 candidates sitting this exam country wide.
http://www.bahatia.blogspot.com/


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KCSE results--
even the school guard joins
the celebrations

KCSE results--
his shaky finger run down
the index numbers

Caleb David Mutua
Kenya, March 2010


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she buys her child
a flowered success card -
KCSE exams

Duncan Omoto

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***** Graduation Ceremony in Kenya :
kigo for short rains


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World AIDS Day

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World AIDS Day

***** Location: Kenya and worldwide
***** Season: Hot dry season (Kenya), Winter
***** Category: Observances

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Explanation

World AIDS Day takes place every year on 1 December.
From small and thoughtful beginnings, which I remember in Kenya over a decade ago, it has become a major event, not only in Africa, living so directly with AIDS, but also in the global North. The main purpose of World AIDS Day is to raise awareness and support, and increasingly to focus on specific issues around HIV and AIDS.

In order to express solidarity with AIDS patients, the red ribbon is worn by many supporters around the world. Here it is, taken from the Daily Nation on 2 December 2005.

In 2005, the focus was on the "3 by 5" programme -- three million AIDS sufferers to be supplied with anti retroviral drugs (ARVs) by the end of 2005.

In Kenya, World AIDS Day is taken very seriously by the government, and the newspapers devote significant column inches to it. There are many events attracting the general public, and the schools perform plays and sketches with AIDS as their subject. It is sadly amazing how great is the awareness of AIDS among young school children, who in another place and time would have been innocent about problems sexual.

Isabelle Prondzynski.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgindex.asp

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Students at Bahati Community Centre School in Kayole, Nairobi, present a skit on rape and AIDS


© Isabelle Prondzynski

One of the students from Bahati Community Centre writes :

My name is Alfrine Akoth Okuku. I was born in 1990. I did my K.C.P.E in 2004 and scored 268 out of 500. I joined Bahati Community Centre in 2005 and am in Form One North. We are five children in our family: four girls and one boy. Our parents died of HIV/AIDS and now we are orphans. My father died first then my mother followed. Currently, I am staying with my uncle in Soweto, but life is very hard for me; sometimes I have no place to sleep because we are too many in my uncle's house. Sometimes I go without food for a whole day.

When I look behind, there is no alternative because I don't have anybody to assist me pay school fees; I went to all my relatives but nobody agreed to take me to school. As for now, I do not know what to do because I do not have books to write in; when it reaches time for writing notes, I usually borrow from my friends. I only have one dress which I change everyday.

I would like to become a nurse so I can help the orphans, less fortunate and the neglected. I like assisting my friends whenever they are in need of learning. My hobbies are reading storybooks, making friends and cracking jokes.

http://bahatia.blogspot.com/

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War on Aids losing steam

Publication Date: 1 December 2005
Today, Kenyans and the rest of the world mark the World Aids Day. Unfortunately, only a small number of those infected, and a rapidly growing number of those directly affected, will see any significance in the ceremonies arranged to mark the day.

If it is true that Kenya has shown signs of a decline in HIV prevalence over the past few years, with adult infection rates decreasing from 10 per cent in the 1990s to seven per cent today, this should not be any reason for complacency.

And if it is true, as the National Aids Control Council (Nacc) says, that Kenya has managed to put 50,000 people under anti-retroviral treatment, which prolongs life and generally improves the health of the sufferers, this, too, should not lull us to sleep.

For this must be just a fraction of those infected and those needing medical assistance to cope. Most likely, three times as many die of Aids complications every year, and are quietly buried.

Going by the most recent statistics, more than 1.5 million Kenyans are living with Aids - out of 40.3 million worldwide - a huge number of them Aids orphans. What, then, is there to celebrate about?

If, as has been claimed, about 80,000 Kenyans were last year alone newly infected by HIV, it means that at least 7,000 Kenyans are "catching it" every month, leading to the conclusion that the message is still not quite sinking in.

Although HIV/Aids was declared a national disaster in Kenya before 2002, the campaign to drive the prevention message home has not been as vigorous as would have been expected.

Most of our leaders seem to have more important things to think about than preventing the death of thousands of young Kenyans every month. There should never be room for complacency on this most vexed of epidemics. Right now, the world's attention is riveted on bird flu, a disease that has killed only 68 people worldwide.

The danger is that Aids might be forgotten in the Western fascination with the novelty, which means that a few million more will be consigned to an early grave due to ignorance and neglect if we relent in the fight.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=24&newsid=62511

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In Kenya, 29 Anglican dioceses held a national week of prayers for people living with AIDS. Anglican Church of Kenya Provincial Secretary Bishop William Waqo said that in the past, the church had "joined the bandwagon of condemning people infected by AIDS," but now there is growing awareness of the need to preach hope amidst the pain and despair of the disease.

http://www.anglicanjournal.com/130/01/world01.html

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Members of the Administration Police carry a placard along Jomo Kenyatta Avenue during the World Aids day celebrations in Mombasa yesterday.


Photo by Gideon Maundu
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgindex.asp


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Kenya's HIV infection rate declines
Story by MUGO NJERU
Publication Date: 2 December 2005

New cases of HIV infection among Kenyans have fallen by four per cent in the past two years, fresh statistics show. Figures released during the World Aids Day celebrations yesterday show that the figures have dropped from 10 per cent in 2003 to 6.1 per cent this year. The statistics also show that more than 20 per cent of those infected are now aware of their status, having visited the voluntary counselling and testing centres countrywide.

The decrease in infection rate is attributed to behaviour change, including abstention from casual sex and the use of condoms.

Kenyans were urged not to waver in their behaviour change which could reverse the gains realised in the fight against the scourge.

The celebrations were held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and was presided over by Health permanent secretary Zachary Ogongo and the director of the National Aids Control Council, Dr Patrick Orege, among others.

The United Nations Development Programme representative, Mr Andre de la Porte, said the infection rate could be reduced further if the campaigns targeted young women aged between 15 and 24, who were the majority of those infected. "There is little evidence of progress in addressing the deep-rooted gender inequalities which fuel the epidemic," said Mr de la Porte, who spoke on behalf UNaids.

He said increased rape incidents, female genital mutilation and other sexual crimes had made women vulnerable. He asked the Government to use Aids funds efficiently.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=62598

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Nimechill

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 21, 2005

PSI/Kenya's "Nimechill" youth abstinence campaign, the first of its kind in the country, has became so popular that the phrase "chilling" has been incorporated into the language and culture. Reports also show that almost half of youth surveyed had been exposed to the campaign, and those exposed to the campaign's empowering messages were more likely to believe in their own ability to abstain than those who did not see the campaign.

The campaign seeks to delay teen sexual debut by changing social norms and reducing peer pressure, creating stigma regarding irresponsible, early sex among youth and making abstinence a "cool", smart and responsible choice.

A cartoon logo of a yellow hand giving a "V" or a "peace" sign is used to brand the campaign, and the phrase "Nimechill," (Swahili-English slang meaning "I have chilled" or "I am abstaining")
has become a powerful and instantly recognizable slogan. The logo was recognized by 85% of the target group (10- to 15-year-olds) and nearly two-thirds (64%) understood that "Nimechill" refers to abstinence from premarital sex, according to a national media evaluation survey conducted by PSI.



PSI/Kenya's "Nimechill" campaign seeks to delay teen sexual debut by changing social norms and reducing peer pressure



This poster is from a PSI/Kenya campaign encouraging youth to abstain from sex.
http://www.psi.org/

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VCT

Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCT) have sprung up all over Kenya and have made it much easier for Kenyans to seek advice about HIV and AIDS. Many sports and youth clubs expect members to have passed a HIV test before joining, and to repeat it at regular intervals, e.g. every six months. This, together with the very successful "Nimechill" campaign, is helping to reduce peer pressure to engage in adolescent sex, and is very welcome among community leaders.

The following web sites list VCT centres and explain how they work.

http://www.straightalk.or.ke/vct_centres.htm
http://www.youthaids.org/action/kenya.html
http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/Network/v23_3/nt2333.htm

Isabelle Prondzynski

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Worldwide use

Lesotho

AIDS is an every day reality for the people of Lesotho. With adult prevalence rates at 29%, the Kingdom faces one of the greatest burdens of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

In an effort to urgently address the growing epidemic in the country, on World AIDS Day 2005 His Majesty King Letsie III led his nation in a renewed commitment to halting and reversing the spread of AIDS in the country with the launch of a new plan to have every person in the country know their HIV status.



Photo credit: UNAIDS
http://www.unaids.org/

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United Kingdom

Welcome to World AIDS Day - the international day of action on HIV and AIDS which takes place every year on 1 December.

This year in the UK, World AIDS Day is about wearing the Red Ribbon, as a sign of support for people living with HIV and a symbol of hope for the future. We want you to Wise up and Wear it. If you would like to get hold of your own Red Ribbon you can find your nearest outlet here and you can also download a Virtual Red Ribbon from this site to wear on your website or in your email signature.

World AIDS Day is about people getting the facts about HIV and AIDS. It's a day for people to get involved and there are many ways in which you can do so. We have a listing of events where you can search to find the ones that suit you, or if you are organising an event, you can add details of your event. If you would like to get involved in other ways, we have some great ideas for you!

No matter how you decide to mark the day, you can help create a more AIDS Aware society in which everyone takes action, so please make sure you show off your Red Ribbon on 1 December! http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp

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Things found on the way

46664
"AIDS is no longer just a disease it is a human rights issue."
Nelson Mandela

46664 is Nelson Mandela's campaign to help raise Global awareness of AIDS/HIV. 46664 launched last Autumn by Mandela in London aims to highlight the emergency of AIDS/HIV through unique live events and music related initiatives.

46664 was the former President of South Africa's prison number when he was held in captivity for 18 years on Robben Island in Cape Town. Last November a huge Concert was held at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town which featured a galaxy of international music talent including Beyonce, Bono, Dave Stewart, Queen and Anastasia. This show was the first of many planned world wide events.
www.mediazone.com/channel/mandela/jsp/index.jsp

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HAIKU

Rosemary --
your absence still present
every day


AIDS test
even the good outcome
with trepidation

Isabelle Prondzynski, World AIDS Day 2005

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aids report. . .
her tears fall
on her baby in arms

torn between -
sick child, sick husband
aids report and god

Aids is a very big threat in India, but an awareness is definately building up amongst the people.
Still we have a long, long way to go.

Kala Ramesh, India

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Plump healthy strong man
I looked elsewhere for a while
Now frail and thin, AIDS

Galefetolwe Sethapo
http://www.thuto.org/english/courses/eng434/botshaiku.htm

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learning how deep
sexless love can be - holding hands
in the spring meadow

http://www.ahapoetry.com/twchp2.htm

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From my toes on up
I'm learning to survive this
HIV and AIDS

http://www.hivstopswithme.org/contributor_article.aspx?t=EN&l=home&c=stevan&id=110

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HIV / AIDS Awareness event in Kayole
17 May 2008

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happy happy bar--
drunkards take HIV test
when drinking beer


HIV rally--
jack declares his positive
status daytime


HIV virus--
she has lived positively
twenty years

Barrack Elungata
Kenya, June 2011


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Related words

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