Students from the Jalaram Academy in Kisumu on Tuesday, April 11, unveiled a device to curb cheating in National examinations.
The duo of Azelia Mckenzie and Brian Steve explained that the security box was fitted with five features that detect access to the papers and report the same to the police.
Steve explained that it will reduce the premature exposure of exam papers which has been rampant during exam periods.
"It is fitted with an ultra-sonic sensor and a security lock which only grants access through a pin. If the box is opened without the pin, the alarm goes off," he explained.
The student added that the new device uses a global system for mobile (GSM) communication model which enables it to send text messages in case of any breach.
Mckenzie noted that the breach can also be detected and reported visually using beam lights attached to the system.
"When the box is sealed, it blinks blue and when opened, the color changes to white. We also have a buzzer that goes off and sends a message in real time," she explained.
The security system is run by Arduino software that runs on a code and is operated by the administrator.
Given that exams are sent to different stations, the contact of police and centre managers is added to the code. This allows them access to the box and sends messages in the event of tampering.
Moses Otiende, who guided the students during the innovation, assured them that the system was safer compared to the analog security measures.
"Once the coding is done, they have to be manually transferred to the mini-server through a port. There is no window from cyber hacking since it is not connected to the internet," Otiende stated.
The teacher noted that the box can also be used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to safeguard ballot boxes.
