Speaking at St George’s Girls Secondary School in Nairobi, Prof Magoha said the ministry had put in place adequate measures to curb any form of cheating, also urging invigilators during the remaining two weeks to be more aggressive while doing frisking so as to ensure unauthorized materials don’t get to the examination room/FILE – CFM
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 8 – Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha on Friday said over 50 mobile phones have so far been seized in examination centers across the country and 60 people arrested as authorities preempted cheating in the ongoing Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
Speaking at St George’s Girls Secondary School in Nairobi, Prof Magoha said the ministry had put in place adequate measures to curb any form of cheating, also urging invigilators during the remaining two weeks to be more aggressive while doing frisking so as to ensure unauthorized materials don’t get to the examination room.
Friday being the fifth day since KCSE examinations kicked off, the CS said monitoring teams spread across the country have turned in positive reports suggesting incidents of examination malpractices have significantly reduced compared to the same time last year.
“As a Ministry, we are proud of how the examinations have so far progressed. In 99.9 per cent of the centres, examination officials have meticulously enforced the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) regulations that are meant to ensure delivery of a credible examination.”
Prof Magoha further said that government will reevaluate the administration of national examinations to private candidates in a bid to ensure stricter management of the examination centers, amid concerns over higher cases exam irregularities compared to public centres.
11 people were arrested at a private center in Kisii in connection with the production of fake candidates’ photo identification album mimicking that of the KNEC roll.
Some of the suspects have already been charged in court.
Out of the 50 mobile phones seized, 35 of these were collected at the St Teresa’s private centre in Nairobi.
“I must report that much as we celebrate the near end to the traditional forms of cheating, we are also disappointed that some unscrupulous people, mainly in private centres, are going to great heights to invent new tricks meant to beat our formidable measures and as government we must reevaluate the administration of examinations to private candidates ” the Education CS said.
According to Prof Magoha, at least 10 examination officials were replaced in various centres over their participation in exam malpractice.
Also, two examination officials have been arrested and replaced after they exposed the contents of examination papers before the scheduled time.
Teachers reported to have been involved in aiding exam malpractices have been warned of strict disciplinary measures, while on the other hand Prof Magoha promised to reward those who have assisted in averting cheating.
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