Students, teachers arrested over exam malpractices

What you need to know:

  • In Taita-Taveta, five supervisors suspended for failing to collect mobile phones from invigilators.
  • University Education Principal Secretary Collette Suda says disciplinary action will be taken against five invigilators who failed to show up at an examination centre in Kiambu County on Wednesday morning.
  • In Bungoma, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers condemns its members involved in exam malpractices.

Seven candidates have been arrested after they were found with unauthorised materials while sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations as supervisors were suspended for failing to adhere to exam guidelines.

Arrested alongside the St Peter’s Secondary School Sang’alo students were their supervisor and four invigilators, said Bungoma South OCPD David Kirui.

“We received information from a Kenya National Examinations Council officer that there were some irregularities at the centre,” said Mr Kirui, adding that the principal, Mr Herman Masafu, will also be charged in court.

On Thursday, the candidates will sit religious education and business studies papers.

In Taita-Taveta, five supervisors were suspended for failing to collect mobile phones from invigilators.

Elsewhere, University Education Principal Secretary Collette Suda said disciplinary action would be taken against five invigilators who failed to show up at an examination centre in Kiambu County on Wednesday morning.

“The relevant authorities have been informed and appropriate administrative measures will be taken against the five,” said Prof Suda.

She cautioned supervisors and invigilators against laxity, asking them to take their assignments seriously to ensure credible results of the examinations.

EXAM MALPRACTICES

The PS later visited Icaciri Secondary School, where the deputy headteacher, Ms Pauline Munyiri, has been appointed acting centre manager. This followed the arrest of principal Jane Mbuthi early this week following the murder of her husband, Kiru Boys High School principal Solomon Mwangi.

Ms Munyiri said the exams were going on well.

In Bungoma, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) condemned its members involved in exam malpractices.

“It is sad that teachers are colluding with students to cheat in national examinations,” said Mr Danson Barasa.

But teachers in Nyanza accused the Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i, of leading a campaign to harass their colleagues suspected of abetting exam cheating.

Led by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Nyanza Region leader Stephen Obiri, they said teachers were interdicted or suspended without being heard.

Mr Obiri described the suspension of a principal and a supervisor for opening the wrong exam paper as brutal.

The principal of St Charles Lwanga Gesero Mixed Secondary School, Mr Charles Nyaigoti, the supervisor, Mr Peter Onchenge, and an invigilator, Ms Billiah Mong’are, were on Tuesday suspended for opening the geography paper instead of the Kiswahili one.

Mr Obiri claimed that the principal immediately reported the error to Knec. He demanded an immediate end to wanton arrest of teachers and supervisors without thorough investigations, saying it will make teachers to fear handling exams.

Reported by Raphael Wanjala, Ouma Wanzala, Nyaboga Kiage and Lucy Mkanyika