Humble Candidates and KCPE Candidates

This morning’s international news shared how US churches prayed yesterday for last week’s elections, but none of these prayers were what I heard in my Kenya Baptist Church. The prayers of my Kenyan friends were prayers of thanksgiving that “Americans were conquerors” last week, not for who was elected, but for the peaceful elections. Prayers were offered for the humbleness of the candidates who lost – the fact that they accepted defeat in a peaceful manner. These prayers were from men and women who are still suffering from the recent elections in their own country – elections that were not defined by peace or humbleness.

“Tough Rules to curb leaks as KCPE starts,” today’s Daily Nation (November 9, 2008) headlines, reflects another current candidate concern of Kenyans – The month-long examinations which continue through this week for those completing high school and the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examinations which begins today for the Standard (grade) Eight students. Many US schools offer special exams to determine if the child progresses to the next class, but few American parents or students fear that failing these exams will mean an end to formal education for the child – nor is there a fear that corruption and cheating will affect the scores.

An editorial, “KCPE: May the best students excel” (Daily Nation, p.10), states that “Some 669,318 Standard Eight candidates have been registered for this … examination that determines those who proceed to secondary and eventually higher education, and those who drop out to face an uncertain future ... Although the transition rate has improved considerably” only 60% of those sitting this exam will have the opportunity to join Form One (first year of high school). The article does not mention that many potential exam candidates have already dropped out of school due to poor grades and others are skipping the exam rather than pay the fee for an exam the child will surely fail. Often the school made this decision as they illegally allow only the students who are likely to pass to take the exam.

Tomorrow (November 11th) through Thursday, the Standard Eight students will take exams in English, Swahili, Science, Math, and Social Sciences. Pray that the best students will excel. Pray for the hundreds of students who are still among the Internally Displaced. Pray that they will excel in spite of poor housing, food and inability to study in recent months. Pray that the situation in Kenya will change and all students will have access to quality education. These students are the future of Kenya – They are the ones who can become the Kenyan’s leaders – They are the ones who can bring true peace to Kenya.
Bert Yates