New National Examinations Council boss Joseph Kavilu. Photo/MIKE KARIUKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 16 – The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) says adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that the 2014 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations take place smoothly and urged candidates to desist from taking part in malpractices.
The body’s new Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu said tough measures including a five-year jail term or a Sh2 million fine will be slapped on those found to have engaged in any malpractice.
He further stated that candidates found cheating will also be barred for up to three years from seating for any KNEC exam.
“Information that we have received so far indicates that people were planning to get involved in examination irregularities. We have also been informed that there are fake papers that are being distributed,” he said.
He revealed that evidence of collusion has already been unearthed and stressed that those found culpable will be dealt with severely.
“The council has established that there are also candidates and university students who wish to be involved in these examination malpractices by collecting money to buy examination papers and others by distributing such papers to candidates for a charge.”
He stated that the distribution of examination papers across all the centres will be done in a timely manner to avoid any delay in the examinations.
“The dispatch of the examination papers and other examination materials to over 1,000 distribution centres across the country will be carried out weekly. These centres are mainly police armouries and chiefs camps. The supervisors will pick the examination papers and store them in the examination room for safety,” he said.
He was speaking during a press briefing where he stated that over 187,000 personnel to deal with supervision, security and marking of the examination have been deployed to ensure the process runs smoothly.
The KNEC boss further urged schools who have not submitted examination candidates’ registration details to do so
“We have other issues like the candidates not being registered by their schools. This year, the council identified KCPE and KCSE schools that uploaded candidates but did not submit their banking slips or nominal rolls” he pointed out.
“Communication to the affected centres informing them about the outstanding examination fees balance and advising them to pay or submit proof of payment was made through the County Directors of Education via phone and e-mail and no response has been received to date from some of the institutions,” he stated.
He indicated that centres who have not submitted the details of their candidates have been suppressed from the KNEC registration data base.
He explained that all steps have been taken to ensure a smooth running and credibility of this year’s national exams and nothing has been left to chance.
“The success of offering these examinations will depend on the efforts of the Kenya National Examination Council and all the stakeholders including the candidates themselves, parents and the public.”
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