Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has pardoned two KCSE candidates from Nairobi caught with mobile phones a few minutes before the national examinations began.
Speaking in Mombasa County on Monday, March 14, Magoha affirmed that the candidates would still carry on with the exams but urged all candidates to concentrate on their exams and avoid any malpractices.
He also sounded a tough warning to all teachers and exam officials against engaging in any irregularities- noting that they would face the full force of the law if caught.
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"We have not had any serious incidents. We dismantled the cartels in primary schools exams. We have noticed that they have formed another one. This morning we have two cases of students with cell phones."
"We shall allow them to take the exams. I want to warn any teacher who feels brave enough and opens the exam papers beforehand. We shall come for you," Magoha stated.
His sentiments were echoed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia who indicated that 70,486 teachers had been thoroughly vetted in order to administer the national exams.
"We have given the best teachers to monitor the exams. We have made strides in the administration of examinations and we want to assure the public that the examinations will be free and fair."
“It was a very shortened term but the teachers did their best and I am proud of them and I'm sure learners will do well,” she reiterated.
While addressing the press, the TSC boss allayed fears of a looming strike from the teachers, adding that they had lengthy discussions with the unions and decided on placing the students' needs first.
The Ministry of Education revealed that 831,015 candidates will sit the 2021 KCSE examinations which began Monday morning, March 14 and will run till Friday, April 1.
Those in Class 7 and Form 3 will then transition to the upper class in late April 2022 and sit their KCPE and KCSE exams in November and December 2022 respectively.
