By OLIVER MUSEMBI
A bright pupil from Kionduso PAG Junior School in Kisii County is devastated after discovering that she is not registered for this year’s Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), raising fears that she could lose an academic year through no fault of her own.
Irene Asiago is now appealing for government intervention after being informed that she may have to repeat the school year and sit the examination next year, despite months of preparation.
The distraught pupil says the news has left her heartbroken and uncertain about her future, as her classmates prepare to sit the national assessment.
“I was shocked to learn at the last minute that my name was not on the list of candidates for this year’s KJSEA. Now they are telling me to repeat and sit the examination next year. I am angry, desperate and heartbroken,” the teenager said in a telephone interview.
She added: “I am deeply worried about my future after sitting my Grade Six examination and progressing to the next level, only to be told that I am not in the system. This is sad, unfair and disheartening. I am appealing to the government to intervene.”
Her relatives, led by her father, Dickson Asiago, have accused the school administration of negligence and are demanding answers from the Ministry of Education over the registration failure.
Speaking to journalists in Ruiru, Kiambu County, where he resides, Asiago said the news had taken a heavy emotional toll on his daughter, who was now stressed and had reportedly stopped eating.
He urged the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the failure to register Irene and take action against those responsible.
“Initially, I was informed by the school that my child was among those registered late for the examination, but it emerged that this was not the case. Now she is feeling bad and stressed after realising that she will not sit the examination alongside her classmates,” Asiago said.
The girl’s uncle, Willy Ragira, said it was unfortunate that Irene, who had served as a school prefect and was among the top-performing pupils in her class, would miss the examination over a mistake she did not make.
Ragira accused the school’s former principal, Rachael Kerubo, who has since been transferred to another institution, of failing to register the pupil. He called for action against her over the alleged negligence.
When reached by phone, Kerubo admitted that she bore part of the responsibility for the failure to register Irene but said she had pledged to support the girl financially if she had to repeat the year.
“I have taken responsibility for the mistake and agreed to support the girl financially, including buying her school uniform, so that she can sit the examination next year,” Kerubo said.
The family is now seeking intervention from the Ministry of Education to establish how the registration failure occurred and determine whether a solution can be found to prevent Irene from losing an academic year.
