Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has warned candidates over a plan to use masks to cheat in the national examinations.
Speaking at Alliance Girls highschool, Magoha pointed out that the ministry is aware that some candidates intend to write down answers on face masks which are mandatory as part of the measures put in place to curb the spread of covid-19.
"We know that some of you are planning to use masks to cheat. Do not make such attempts because we shall frisk you and if caught, it's up to you," he said.
The national exams are scheduled to begin on March 22, 2021, for the KCPE and March 26, 2021, for the KCSE. 1,088,986 candidates are expected to sit for KCPE while 699,745 students will take the KCSE.
The ministry put measures in place to curb cheating It mandated that the examination materials be escorted from the KNEC warehouse to the examination storage in sub-counties by security officers.
DCCs and ACCs will be required to open and close the containers carrying exams. Each container will be manned by armed security officers round the clock. Once exams have been issued to candidates the containers are to be locked and reopened only to return answer scripts. Magoha insisted that the examination papers should not be in the center manager's office at any given time.
Kenya National Examination Council also issued strict instructions to invigilators and teachers overseeing the examinations. This was after the Teachers Service Commission recalled the teachers who were on leave to help in exam administration.
It mandated candidates to lower their masks during identification to counter impersonation. All candidates are to be searched after temperature checks and sanitizing before every test.
The council also requires invigilators to wear face masks and sanitize their hands before and after conducting searches. They are only allowed to remove masks when communicating with candidates with hearing impairment.
“Candidates must wear face masks properly throughout the examination. Candidates with hearing impairment sitting on KCSE exams may be required to remove their masks when taking the practical signing examination” read the guidelines.