KCPE Results Come Early as Teenage Pregnancies Take Center Stage

The KCPE examinations might finally be coming to an end today but with it came a sad reality; that of teenage pregnancies.

Statistics around the country show that over 20 babies were delivered while over 100 pregnancies were reported during this examinations period.

The affected candidates, aged between 14 and 17, perhaps found themselves yielding to exam-related tension and gave birth to their bundles of joy.   

The candidates delivered the babies as Education Cabinet secretary Amina Mohammed assured the examinations had not suffered the scourge of either leakage nor early exposure.

She spoke as she led other government officials in opening containers stationed in various counties, even as she assured appropriate measures have been taken to ensure all pupils in areas affected by insecurity and displacements will write their exams without any hitch.

But the high cases of teenage pregnancies, with some of the candidates forced to sit for their exams either expectant or in maternity wards after delivering their babies, were reported with Kilifi county having more than 100 expectant girls sitting the exam.

Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu described the situation as a disaster that must be urgently addressed to secure the future of the girl child. She said of the 100 girls, 26, were from Kibarani ward, 15 from Konjora and 10 in a single school, who had to sit their exams in labour wards.

In Kaloleni constituency, the area Deputy County Commission Paul Rotich said about 20 girls from various learning institutions, including  national schools  are pregnant.

In Magarini constituency, about 20 girls from different schools were also reported to be pregnant while Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga said 18 girls from five primary schools were pregnant.

The teenage pregnancies have been reported even as Interior CS Fred Matinag’i ordered Chiefs to compile lists of all Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates before results are announced by the Ministry of Education to facilitate 100 percent transition to Form One next year.

Matiang’i believes the lists will help the government monitor individual candidates and facilitate their transition to secondary schools.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has already allayed fears that some candidates might end up missing form one slots. The head of state assured all candidates that his government will work round the clock to ensure they all get admissions to form one.

In a move aimed at achieving the President’s promise, the local administrators have been asked to work with head teachers to compile the lists.

“This will allow 100 per cent transition of the candidates. We are going to hold the chiefs and their assistants responsible if those children will not be located and given Form One slots. We have to ensure all the children get secondary education,” said Dr Matiang’i.

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