New steps to curb exam

Examination irregularities will be a thing of the past as new measures by the Government come into effect.

Beside a raft of measures to curtail irregularities, the Kenya National Examinations Council has upgraded its data processing programmes to guarantee that “a mean grade error” will not affect candidates’ results in future.

“We have taken new measures in the management of exams to enhance credibility,” said Knec boss Paul Wasanga on Monday, a day before national exams started.

Mr Wasanga said Knec had added security features on the exam papers.

“Some of the new security features are invisible and the seal on the bags cannot be replaced once broken,” he said.

The exam papers will now be delivered three days before the examination, unlike in the past when they were delivered 14 days before and, in line with the new policy, they were delivered to 837 armouries across the country during the weekend.

About 18,000 police officers have been deployed to the various centres.

Knec will spend Sh268 million on allowances for supervisors, invigilators and security personnel during the exam period.

Have been barred

Teachers and education officers with a disciplinary record have been barred from invigilating or supervising exams.

The Criminal Investigations Department will screen text messages and telephone conversations. Mr Wasanga said students cheat when they feel that they are not well prepared.

“The exams are knowledge-based,” he said, adding that students only needed to apply knowledge accumulated over the years to do well in the exams.

Possession of unauthorised materials in examination rooms, mobile phones, impersonation or collusion resulted in the cancellation of 1,802 KCPE and 1,875 KCSE candidates’ results last year.

There have been proposals that exam cheats be fined Sh250,000 or be jailed for three years. The Examinations Act stipulates that cheating candidates pay a fine of Sh5,000, which is not considered to be a big enough deterrent.

Even though a number of fake papers have surfaced, Mr Wasanga allayed fears that there had been a leak.

Ranking of schools

Mr Wasanga criticised those calling for the abolition of national exams.

“Students have to be assessed. Life is all about competition. Tell me any other possible way to evaluate the students.”

He also said that the council was considering scrapping the ranking of schools. “There are those who use unorthodox means to appear in the papers.”

Basic Education minister Prof Sam Ongeri had promised tough new measures for exams. “We will go the extra mile to guard the sanctity of the exams,” said Prof Ongeri.