New formula crafted to curb exam cheating

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i takes time with Shimo La Tewa High School students on January 7, 2016. The Ministry of Education will reveal a new formula to curb cheating when Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results are released on Thursday. FILE PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Speaking at Kebirigo Secondary School in Nyamira County, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said he has held several meetings with Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) officials over the matter and assured Kenyans that systems will be put in place to curb cheating in national examinations.
  • Last year's KCSE was marred by several cases of irregularities which attracted public outcry while some candidates had a short period of time for preparation as teachers were on strike.
  • During the examination, nearly 50 students, teachers, university students and policemen were arrested and 30 mobile phones confiscated from candidates.
  • In several incidents, candidates were able to get access to real examination materials days or hours before the administration of the exam.

The Ministry of Education will reveal a new formula to curb cheating when Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results are released on Thursday.

Speaking at Kebirigo Secondary School in Nyamira County, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said he has held several meetings with Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) officials over the matter and assured Kenyans that systems will be put in place to curb cheating in national examinations.

“I have made a proposal that will bring to an end examination cheating in this country.

We cannot get into blame games if we want to solve this nonsense.

It’s sad that more than 50 years since the country attained independence, we cannot curb examination cheating with the enormous resources we have,” Dr Matiang’i said.

The minister said that with the solid institutions and educational experts the country has, it is unbelievable that students “are subjected to that kind of madness (exam cheating) because of a few people.”

ACT DECISIVELY

He warned: “We will act firmly and decisively on this issue so that we sort it out once and for all. We will act without fear or favour on those who will be found culpable.”

He said cheating had become rampant in the recent past.

He said those who aid cheating in examinations do not value the importance of providing quality education in the country.

Dr Matiang’i was reacting to a request made by Kuppet, Nyamira branch executive secretary Lewis Nyakweba and the County Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman Andrew Gesora.

The duo had asked the ministry to crack the whip on Knec officials who leaked examinations.

“Before cancelling examination centres involved in irregularities, let those who are behind the leaks from Knec be disciplined,” Mr Nyakweba said.

Dr Matiang’i, who was addressing secondary school heads in Nyamira County, asked Governor John Nyagarama to liaise with other education stakeholders and convene an education forum that will look for ways of improving education standards in the region.

KCSE RESULTS

Some 525,802 candidates who sat their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination last year will on Thursday know their results.

The examination was administered from October 12 to November 5 in 8,646 examination centres that were served by 845 distribution centres.

It was marred by several cases of irregularities which attracted public outcry while some candidates had a short period of time for preparation as teachers were on strike.

During the examination, nearly 50 students, teachers, university students and policemen were arrested and 30 mobile phones confiscated from candidates.

In several incidents, candidates were able to get access to real examination materials days or hours before the administration of the exam.

Knec CEO Joseph Kivilu, while launching the Knec Strategic Plan 2015-2020, acknowledged that last year’s examination was marred by several cases of irregularities.

Dr Kivilu said the council is determined to ensure the security of examination is guaranteed.

“We have relooked at the storage of examination materials, use of ICT so that we are able to address irregularities. 2015 was an exceptional year,” said Dr Kivilu.