KCSE Exam Leakage: Govt Announces New Measures to Curb Cheating

Education CS George Magoah during the launch of the KCPE, KCSE national examinations season ⁦on March 4, 2021.
Education CS George Magoah during the launch of the KCPE, KCSE national examinations season ⁦on March 4, 2021.
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The Ministry of Education has addressed the issue of leakage of examinations as the dates for KCSE and KCPE near.

While launching the national examinations season on Thursday, March 4, Education CS George Magoha detailed a number of measures that would be undertaken to ensure the security of the papers.

"Parents should not be duped into parting with money to aid any form of cheating in KCPE and KCSE like has been the case in the past. The examinations will not be leaked whatsoever," he assured.

Officials at the launch of the national examinations season on March 4, 2021.
Officials at the launch of the national examinations season on March 4, 2021.
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He added that the government was aware of plans that some centre managers are planning to retain teachers employed by the Board of Management (BOM) in schools to aid cheating.

"The examination centres with such plans have been identified and are being monitored closely. It's important for all of us to ensure that all headteachers and other persons steer a credible examination process," he stated conveying that the ministry would not tire in dealing with any form of examination cheating.

Magoha disclosed that his ministry was working together with the Ministry of ICT, Ministry of Interior and the Coordination of the National Government and had agreed on strategies to enhance the security of the 2020 national examinations. 

In the new plan, Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs) and Assistant County Commissioners (ACCs) will be involved in the daily opening and closing of the containers in their respective Sub- counties.

Each container will be manned by four armed security officers on a 24/7 basis once the examinations are delivered to the Sub Counties. Additional security officers will be deployed from time to time when the need arises.

Once the examination papers for the day have been issued, the container must be locked to be reopened when candidates ' answer scripts are returned after the day's examinations.

The security officer in charge of the container must adhere to the rules pertaining to the opening and closing of the container.

Security officers will be used to escort the examination materials from the KNEC warehouse to the examination storage facilities in the Sub Counties.

Upon arrival at the Sub Counties, the examinations will be handed over to the Sub County Directors of

Education and the Deputy County Commissioners who will provide security for the examinations.

During the exam period, all question papers will be escorted by armed security officers each day of the examination when the centre managers will be collecting and returning the candidates answer scripts to the container.

Education CS George Magoha inspecting containers with the KCSE examinations in 2019.
Education CS George Magoha inspecting containers with the KCSE examinations in 2019.
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While at the examination centre, the security officers will ensure adequate security is provided to all the candidates and the examination materials.

The centre manager must hand over examination materials to the supervisor once he/she arrives at the examination centre.

"At no time should the examination papers be in the centre manager's office," Magoha directed.

Upon completion of the examinations, the council will liaise with the Sub County Directors of Education and Deputy County Commissioners on when the candidates ' answer scripts will be returned to KNEC premises under armed security escort.

"While overseeing examinations, the vetted and appointed supervisors and invigilators must uphold integrity in the execution of their roles. They should be vigilant and deter any form of examination malpractice," he divulged.

Magoha further disclosed that the Ministry had banned supervisors and invigilators from being deployed in the same examination centres for more than two consecutive years in line with KNEC's policy. 

The national exams are set to begin on March 22, 2021, for the KCPE and March 26, 2021, for the KCSE with 1,088,986 candidates are expected to sit for KCPE while 699,745 students will take the KCSE.

File image of KCSE students sitting an exam
File image of KCSE students sitting an exam
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