The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has moved to avert turf wars between its county officials and Ministry of Education officials that had threatened the conduct of national examinations.

TSC Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni

This is after the ministry and the teachers’ employer deployed officers to head counties as directors.

To calm the silent wars between these county officials and to ensure smooth running of the examinations, TSC released specific roles of the directors.

This is the first time TSC County Directors will be directly involved in dissemination of examinations, an exercise that was previously conducted by ministry officials.

Ensuring security

In a September 26 circular, Commission Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni said under the new roles, TSC County Directors are expected to ensure the security of question papers while in examination centres.

They are also expected to ensure discipline of invigilators and supervisors of national examinations.

The county directors are also mandated to verify the database provided by the Kenya National Examination Council for deployment of invigilators and supervisors.

This means that the TSC officials will ensure that any official who is participating in the dissemination of examination is registered by TSC.

However, the officials are expected to brief all heads of institutions, supervisors and invigilators jointly with the county directors.

Receiving circulars

Receiving of all circulars and related materials for registration of candidates and their dissemination to sub-county offices will also be done by county directors.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Educations examinations started last week, with the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations scheduled to be held between December 4 and 5.

The exams, scheduld to begin earlier, were postponed following the teachers’ strike in August that paralysed learning in public schools.

By Augustine Oduor, The Standard