Education Department in Likuyani Sub County has launched an investigation to establish reasons as to why the high number of registered Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidates missed the examinations about two weeks ago.
According to area Sub County Director Mr. David Esemele Mwandihi, his office was alarmed after about 50 candidates in the Sub County failed to show up to sit for examinations like the rest of their colleagues.
“Interestingly, the whereabouts of some of the affected female and male candidates remain unknown even to their teachers,” he said.
“For such a big number of candidates to go missing when they should be sitting for the examinations leaves a lot to be desired,” said Mr. Mwandihi.
However, Esemele told West Media most of the said candidates were reported to have abandoned school immediately after registering with Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
“We are investigating reports that some of the affected female candidates might have been married off at an early age against the law, if established to be true, action will be taken accordingly,” said the officer.
The Education office is working closely with Children department in the area and other relevant departments in pursuing the matter to a logical conclusion.
Mr Mwandihi said each one of the candidates will be trailed and those responsible for their disappearance could be arrested and prosecuted for violating the Pupils’ rights.
“Those living with them as wives and those who married them off will
be in hot soup,” he said.
He regretted the rising cases of students being impregnated in the area and put culprits on notice saying the vice will not be tolerated anymore.
Elsewhere, the County first lady Mrs Priscilla Oparanya has asked parents and churches to inculcate positive values in their children during the long December holidays.
Mrs Oparanya said many children go astray once parents abdicate their responsibilities in guiding and sometimes counselling them.
“You must ensure the children are occupied throughout because leaving them to idle around will lead them to start indulging in vices that could
land them in trouble,” she said.
