Social Media Tracking - Education CS Explains How Govt Curbs KCSE Exam Cheating

2022 KCSE Students
An invigilator distributes papers to Starehe Boys' Centre students sitting KCSE exams in 2021.
Photo
Ministry of Education

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations theory tests kicked off on Monday, November 4, after weeks of practical tests in several subjects.

While overseeing the distribution of KCSE examination papers at the Kenya National Examinations Council’s Container at the Kibra Deputy County Commissioner's Offices on Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba reiterated that the government had put in place several measures to ensure that examination malpractice does not reoccur in this year’s nationwide examinations.

Ogamba further warned those caught cheating of severe consequences and outlined ways that the government is planning to use to curb this vice in schools across the country.

“The Government has taken steps to curb any attempts at malpractices and irregularities through various innovative approaches. These include personalization of the examination papers and securing all mobile phones in an examination centre while an examination is ongoing,” CS Ogamba stated.

A KCSE certificate and a person in handcuffs.
A KCSE certificate and a person in handcuffs.
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke

Ogamba also added that the government would be undertaking surveillance on social media in order to take immediate action against any reports or signs of exam malpractice or irregularities on any of the online sites.

Addressing parents and teachers directly, Ogamba noted that it was obvious that most of the malpractices were funded and aided by those responsible for the students sitting for the examination and therefore implored them to let the students sit for their exams unhindered so that they can be proud of their hard work.

He also added that the practice was not helping the students but discrediting their certificates which meant that they would be unprepared in the work industry.

“I am urging the adults in the country not to engage themselves in malpractices. We tried this year. There are security features on the exams, we insisted on no phones in any examination centre and if you find someone insisting that they want to be there with a phone, it is an offense and we can take disciplinary action against them," he added.

Speaking of taking disciplinary action on those found helping in the malpractice, the CS announced on October 27 that the government had constituted special courts to prosecute those caught.

That was in a bid to achieve clarity in the national exams this year and ensure no cheating scandals slip through. He also noted that the judiciary will expedite the process and ensure that cases do not take years in courts.

“As a ministry, we are well prepared with all the multi-agency that we have in place from the government, because we are approaching this as a whole government to ensure we deliver a credible examination where malpractices are not allowed at all,” CS Ogamba told the press.

The 2024 KCSE examination will be administered under a multi-agency approach involving the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, and the Teachers Service Commission.

 Candidates from St Anne's Girls High School, Lioki, in Kiambu County sit for KCSE papers on November 6, 2023.
Candidates from St Anne's Girls High School, Lioki, in Kiambu County sit for KCSE papers on November 6, 2023.
Photo
KNEC