This year’s national examinations have recorded the highest numbers in teenage pregnancies. In both KCPE and KCSE, there have been cases of candidates giving birth whilst others sat for the exams while pregnant.
The ministry now says it will implement a policy to curb the issue.
On Tuesday, The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chairman George Magoha attributed the high rate of teenage pregnancies to lack of family values.
Speaking after opening an exam container in Kamukunji, Nairobi early Tuesday morning, Magoha advised parents to spend time more with their children.
He explained that if they do not make time for their children, someone else will influence them resulting in early pregnancies.
“The high rate of candidates giving birth is a cultural problem. We as parents are failing to bring up our children in the correct manner. We are getting to a situation where the children are dictating to the parents what they should do,” he warned.
KNEC Chairperson, Prof George Magoha says parents should actively take up their parental role to help reduce teenage pregnancies#KTNNewsCentre pic.twitter.com/3nprcm45gj
— ktn (@KTNKenya) November 6, 2018
His sentiments came as the number of candidates sitting this year’s exams and giving birth continue to increase with the latest incident in Mwingi, at Enziu Secondary School.
“That is a very serious issue. We need to go back to the family and deal with it ruthlessly from there. Parents must have time for their children; if they do not have time for their female children, then someone else will create time for them, and that someone else will be the ‘hyena’ that will be telling her ‘you are the most important thing in my life’,” he cautioned.
“You can assume that this is happening all the time. Where have our family values gone to,” he posed.
The KCSE candidate of Enziu Secondary School went into labour while sitting the English Paper One exam and was rushed at Mumbuni Hospital in Mwingi where she had a normal delivery and continued with the exam at the hospital.
This is the fifth case in the county since the exams commenced Monday, according to Kitui Police Commander Alex Kamitu.
On Monday four candidates delivered at Mwingi Level Four Hospital and Kitui Level Five Hospital.
The cases involved students from IPC Mathuma Secondary School, Enzuva Secondary School, Vinda Secondary School and Ungatu Secondary School.
During KCPE, Education PS Bellio Kipsang cautioned that parents may be arrested for letting their daughters get pregnant. Are the parents the only ones to blame here or teachers should also be included?