By Harrison Kivisu,
The Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC) has asked all teachers who were picked to mark national examinations to get vaccinated for Covid-19 before traveling to Nairobi.
Speaking in Mombasa on Friday, March 26, TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Nancy Macharia urged the examiners to take the vaccine to protect them as they mark national exams.
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''You are all aware that Nairobi and its immediate environs have one of the highest rates of the virus and therefore caution is required,'' CEO Macharia said.
The TSC boss said the Covid-19 jab is available for teachers since they have been listed as frontline workers by the national government.
Ms. Macharia said that 92,850 teachers in public schools above the age of 50 years are also eligible for the vaccine.
''Teachers have been classified as a priority group in the Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Report from the Ministry of Health indicates that there is an upward trend in the number of teachers presenting themselves for the jab,'' she said.
She disclosed that the Health Ministry has made available a list of 622 Covid-19 vaccination centres, some of which are accredited providers for teacher’s medical scheme.
''I received my jab last week. I believe that all of you will present yourself to designated centers of health to get the same,'' she said.
A total of 227,000 teachers have been vetted and certified as suitable staff to oversee the 2,020 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) national examinations that kicked off on March 26, 2021, across the country.
Macharia, who supervised the opening of the examination papers' containers at the Mombasa County Commissioners office, said that the teachers were found to be suitable and recommended to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to participate in the exercise.
Nationally, there are 752,437 candidates sitting for the month-long examination. On Friday, the candidates sat the English paper for both braille and the hearing-impaired before English Comprehension, Literary Appreciation & Grammar for various categories of learners.
Mombasa County has 9,042 candidates sitting the examination out of which 4,038 are girls and 5,004 are boys.
''We know our teachers are some of the best and we expect you to show and maintain the highest level of professionalism as you discharge your duties over these national examinations. I urge all the centre managers to be extra vigilant and ensure that the examinations are guarded,'' she said.
She announced that intelligence reports have led to the closer monitoring and surveillance of some 20 schools that are reported to have planned to cheat in the examination.
Macharia said that each examination centre has been assigned two security personnel.
Coast Regional Coordinator, John Elungata, said that they have made all necessary measures like security and logistic provisions to make it easier for candidates to sit for their examinations.
''All the necessary arrangements have been finalized. We do not expect anything out of the ordinary,'' the administrator said.
