Matiang’i on right track to curb exam cheating and mustn’t relent

Examination leakage in Kenya is a disease that has left many students and parents hurt and confused. The vice has been blamed on rampant corruption.

As an environmental conservationist, and an elephant expert, I would want to equate it to the current crisis of elephant and rhino poaching by an organised criminal syndicate that has proved difficult to stop. 

There is no single silver bullet that will stop poaching and examination cheating in Kenya. In order to control poaching, a three-pronged approach has been identified and it is showing good results.

The three components of the strategy are: stop the killing, stop the trafficking, and stop the demand.

This strategy should be employed to stop examination leakage. Stop the leakage at the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) followed by checking the distribution of the leaked examination papers by the public and finally, stopping the demand by students, parents, and teachers. 

It is unfortunate that the recent policy guidelines announced by the Cabinet secretary for Education, Dr Fred Matiang’i, have been condemned from all quarters.

I do not blame the public for it does not understand the issue. We must appreciate the perspective and stop overreacting. Instead, we must think of a real solution to this problem that could ruin Kenya’s profile internationally.

I am supposing that the Cabinet secretary was guided by experts and that he consulted widely before making the announcement. I think Dr Matiang’i is on the right track and needs the support of all Kenyans.

Friends School Kamusinga, where I serve as chairman of the board of management, has been implementing these policy guidelines since 2012. The school management and parents unanimously agreed that there shall be no visiting by parents and relatives in the third term.

Secondly, since the school is built on a strong Christian faith and solid Sunday worship, the parents also agreed not to attend the prayer day, which is a relatively new phenomenon. The prayer day is attended by students, teachers, the school’s non-teaching staff, and members of the parents-teachers association and the school management board.

CLEARING THE MESS

Although the school hadn’t had any cases of examination cheating, the principal and teachers felt that it was an unnecessary headache clearing the mess left by some parents, which in some cases affected students’ performance in examinations.

For instance, some parents would give their children mobile phones and bring all sorts of examination papers. Some would even bring witchcraft paraphernalia in the mistaken belief that this would enable their sons to perform better in the national exams. 

All this ended up confusing the well-prepared students. Some of the most promising students ended up not doing well.

The school has continued to do well and no case of examination cheating has ever been reported at Friends School Kamusinga. It is encouraging that a number of schools have adopted this strategy and are thriving.

It is shameful that some people have reacted to these well-intentioned measures with insults to the Cabinet secretary, especially on social media.

I say to Dr Matiang’i: You are on the right track. The big challenge for the CS now is to get rid of the “poachers” at the examination council. He did the right thing by replacing the bosses.

Finally, it is vital to work with the security agents to enhance law enforcement and apprehend and prosecute those found to be involved in the syndicate.
Creating awareness among the general public, parents, and students is also crucial.

All Kenyans should be willing to support the ministry by volunteering information on any sign of examination stealing.

Kenya’s education has for a long time been in trouble and Dr Matiang’i should be applauded for being pro-active and trying to make things right.

Prof Sitati, is the chairman of the management board of Friends School Kamusinga and a programme manager for African Wildlife Foundation in Namanga.