Top security, education official expected in exam cheating hotspots

Top security and education officials will be dispatched to six parts of the country to investigate reports of plans to cheat in the forthcoming national examinations.

The decision followed a high-level meeting last Friday, that brought together top officers from the police service, the Ministry of Education and the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) to review reports that there were plans to cheat.

REPORTS

The areas have been hotspots for examination cheating over the years. They are Kisii, Meru, Kiambu, Garissa, West Pokot, Wajir and some parts of Nyanza.

Intelligence reports uncovered elaborate plans to cheat. Those behind the plans, the Sunday Nation learnt, include principals of schools, examination officials and parents who were ready to go to any lengths to ensure their children pass.

Speaking in Kisii County on Friday, Knec chairman George Magoha cautioned principals against collecting money from parents to buy fake examination materials for their candidates.

Mr Magoha said the body had credible information that some school heads were charging parents as much as Sh30,000 to help them finance the purchases of the materials.

He told the parents not to play ball as no examination material had been leaked.

NO LEAKAGE

Professor Magoha, who toured Kisii on Friday, said all schools where principals were asking parents for money were identified and will be isolated for disciplinary action.

Knec has submitted a list of these principals to relevant authorities for action.

During the Friday meeting in Nairobi, Education Principal Secretary (PS) Bellio Kipsang urged security officials to play their roles as they have done in the last two years.

Dr Kipsang stressed that the Ministry of Education is prepared to tackle any malpractices and assured that examinations will not be leaked.

He promised a high level of coordination among the multi-sectoral teams that will oversee the exercise.

“Together with Knec officials, we will step up the exam pre-monitoring exercise which will hit a crescendo when the theory papers begin,” said the PS.

Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and the PS are expected in Isiolo on Tuesday as part of a wider plan to pre-monitor the examinations.

POLICE ROLE

Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet lauded police for the role they have played in the last two years in ensuring the safety and credibility of tests.

“I assure you that the National Police Service has the capacity to adequately address security challenges and ensure the rule of law as envisioned and prioritised by the government,” said Mr Boinnet.

Knec acting chief executive Dr Mercy Karogo asked those who will be involved in administration of national examinations to double their efforts and ensure sustainability of standards set in 2016.

“More support will be required due to increase in candidature and a rise in the number of sub-counties and the number of containers across the county,” said Dr Karogo.

The national examinations will start on October 22, with oral, aural and practical tests of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, while written tests will start on November 5.

The total number of candidates sitting Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations this year are 1.06 million in 27,161 examination centres while KCSE candidates number 664,586 in 10,078 centres.

The exams will be stored in 459 containers across the country.