Record 8,000 exam cheats denied results
Cases of exam fraud have risen dramatically, with nearly 8,000 pupils from 334 schools caught cheating in the Standard Eight national examination this year.
Among the pupils who had their results cancelled, 144 were from private schools and 190 were from public primary schools. (READ: Grades cancelled in 335 Kenyan schools)
Migori County led the pack with 667 cheaters in 25 schools followed by Kakamega (665), Homa Bay (631) and Nairobi (626).
Other Counties are Bomet (547), Mombasa (458), Kisii (439), Bungoma (367) and Meru (302).
Nyeri, Turkana, Laikipia and Busia Counties recorded no cases of cheating, the Kenya National Examinations Council said.
Last year’s KCPE exams recorded the lowest incidents of cheating, with results for 1,103 candidates from 68 schools nationwide annulled, a drop from 1,900 cases in from 2009.
While announcing the KCPE results on Wednesday, Minister for Education Sam Ongeri noted that pupils were now using ingenious ways to cheat.
Some had answers written on their school uniforms and sandals.
“While we will take stern action on such fellows, all counties must assist in dealing with such people who are hell bend to destroy our children’s future,” he said.
Collusion involving pupils, teachers and supervisors was the most rampant form of irregularity recorded.
In Nairobi, private schools were the main culprits with results cancelled in 15 schools compared to two public schools. The schools included Sunflower, Soweto, Uchumi Day, Caso Upendo and Al-ansaaru academies.
Others were Dr Aggrey, Kileleshwa, Mwangaza United, Eastleigh Good Hope, Rehema Community and Compit Primary Schools.
“Most cheating occured in private schools when compared to the per cent of their total number,” Knec secretary Paul Wasanga said.
The number of private schools involved was four per cent their total compared to one per cent the total of public schools.
In one case, a Knec officer was threatened with death after she refused to accept a bribe from the area district education officer and a headmaster to turn a blind eye.
Out 776,214 candidatestested in 22,154 schools, 7,974 had their results cancelled, representing about one per cent of the candidates.
In Bomet pupils from seven private and eight public schools colluded. They include Kapletundo, Siroin, Leldaet, Rofa Grammar and Mutorokwo.
Others from Chepalungu and Konoin were Kipkeigei, Kaboson, Mengwet, Kenyagoro, Sinai and Bosto primary schools.
Embomos, Kamagomon, Besiobei and Chemalal were all involved in collusion during English and Kiswahili papers.
In Mombasa pupils cheated in Kiswahili, Social Studies, Science and English. Meru County had results cancelled for 302 pupils in 13 schools.
Other cheaters were in Kilifi (275), Kirinyanga (194), Marsabit (269), Kericho (135), Nakuru (251) and Nandi (192).
