Ministry of Education will appeal the court’s decision to suspend the mid-year KCSE.
The Ministry will appeal the High Court’s ruling to suspend the Mid-Year Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba.
The Ministry revealed that it has directed its legal team to start the petition appeal procedure.
The purpose of the mid-year tests, according to Ogamba, is to provide students who did not perform well in the past another chance.
“The government is committed to making sure that the midterm exams are given in a way that benefits the students. Our attorneys must currently review the conservatory order’s foundation and adjust their responses appropriately,” Ogamba clarified.
The CS informed that they would look into the issue to ensure no rights are violated and proceed with the appeal.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) announced it would be issuing mid-year exams to students in July, offering candidates who wished to improve their grades a second chance.
The announcement was swiftly hindered after a petition was filed against KNEC by Nakuru-based doctor Magare Gikenyi, who argued that the planned examination unfairly impacted students and undermined the integrity of the exam.
In her ruling on Wednesday, Kisii High Court Lady Justice Odera Achieng stated that the petition met the threshold for issuing conservatory orders.
The petitioner claimed that the mid-year retakes contravened candidates’ rights to respect, their best interests, the right to life and development, and their right to be heard and participate.
He further claimed that no proper stakeholder involvement had been conducted, despite the Ministry of Education stating the opposite.
Ogamba’s pronouncements came hours after Education PS Belio Kipsang stated that the government would comply with the court order and revert the exams to November. Kipsang said that candidates registered for the July series could potentially sit for the November KCSE examinations if the court fails to lift the prevailing orders.
Apart from students who wanted to retake the exams, the July exams were also intended to consider adult candidates and those who had taken the exams years earlier.
Ministry of Education will appeal the court’s decision to suspend the mid-year KCSE.