Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i has released new measures geared towards curbing rampant cheating during national examinations.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Matiang'i announced that the Ministry had banned midterms, visiting days, prayers' day and all other social activities during schools' third term.
According to the CS, such events were contributing to exam malpractices since students would get access to exam papers and mobile phones to help in propagating the vice.
He therefore, advised that prize givings, annual general meetings, prayers and other non-academic activities be restricted to second term to minimise contact between candidates and outsiders during the examination period.
The Ministry further divulged that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination would not extend for more than four weeks to reduce the chances of engagement in exam irregularities.
At the same time, CS Matiang'i announced 2016 examination dates, with the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam slated to run from November 1 to 3 after which KCSE will start on November 7 to 30. School Principals will be charged with overseeing the sitting of exams.
The Cabinet Secretary also stated that this year's second term would be extended by one week hence schools will break for the holidays on August 12.
While releasing the 2015 KCSE results early in the year, the Minister decried the high number of exam irregularities witnessed last year and declared that strict measures would be put in place to end the menace.
In April, the CS disbanded the Kenya National Examination Board with subsequent sacking of nine board members including former CEO Joseph Kivilu.
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